TEMPE, AZ — Not even a full month into 2020, the string of unfortunate restaurant causalities in the Valley continues with Tempe Public Market Cafe.
Opened in January 2018, the restaurant was considered to be the sister concept to the popular Phoenix Public Market Cafe in downtown Phoenix. The Tempe location closed on Friday, Jan. 17, 2019, two years after it opened and eight months after it closed for an extensive remodel.
It was located on the northeast corner of Rural and Warner roads in Tempe.
News of the closure was announced Friday morning on the restaurant's Facebook page.
"This was not an easy decision and we cannot express our gratitude for every person that has supported us on this journey. We have seen great success here, however, this was the next leg of our journey. Our team is continuing to grow and pursue other opportunities, stay tuned for more to come," the post said.
"We love this community in South Tempe and we are grateful to have been part of it's [sic] growth," the post ended.
Chef Aaron Chamberlin and his brother, David, have opened a handful of restaurants in the Phoenix metro over the years: St. Francis, Phoenix Public Market Cafe, Taco Chelo, and Ghost Ranch.
Last year, the restaurateurs decided to separate the business. Aaron took ownership of Phoenix Public Market Cafe and Taco Chelo in downtown Phoenix, and David took over Ghost Ranch and Tempe Public Market Cafe in Tempe. St. Francis was sold to a different ownership group in May 2018.
In May 2019, Tempe Public Market Cafe closed to undergo a month-long remodel. It reopened in June.
It joins a list of restaurants that have either closed or announced plans to close this year: Condesa (closed, possibly reopening), Woody's Macayo (closed), Mother Bunch Brewing (closed), Laredo Cantina (closed), and Hard Rock Cafe (to close in February).
