DeSoto Central Market in downtown Phoenix has closed, but plans are underway for a new concept, according to management.
"As of Monday, August 20th 2018 the DeSoto Central Market concept will no longer be in operation," said Shawn Connelly, managing partner, in an emailed statement.
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"We sincerely appreciate all of our employees over the years, who worked incredibly hard to make DeSoto what it was. We are also very thankful to the community and our customers for your support," he said.
The building will remain and "new plans are in the works," the statement said, though it did not elaborate on what those plans entailed.
DeSoto opened in 2015 and was an incubator of sorts for a handful of restaurant concepts built in the former C.P. Stephens DeSoto Six Motorcars dealership.
It was home to DCM Burger Joint, Walrus & The Pearl, DCM Burger, and Adobo Dragon.
Three concepts -- Root and Soul, Izzy's Pantry and a rotating taproom -- had recently opened there as well.
It was also where Valley chef Stephen Jones launched his Southern concept, The Larder & The Delta.
Jones, who closed his restaurant in 2017 and has no ownership in DeSoto, called the closing a "very sad day for downtown Phoenix.."
"DeSoto Central Market was such breathe of fresh air for downtown when we opened in 2015, something new unlike its kind, we had so many good times trying to evolve the downtown dining scene as well as support the downtown community & the arts district," he said. "But times change and if you cannot change or pivot with the times unfortunately bad things happen like this. I wish Shawn, Ken and Sam all the best and I am sure they will be back with something cool and fun for downtown, I know it."
Jones recently reopened The Larder & The Delta at Portland on the Park, a condominium/retail complex in downtown Phoenix.
DeSoto's statement did not say on what led to the closure.
