A lot has changed since the beginning of the year, when Postino WineCafe excitedly announced it was opening an all-new location in South Tempe. Much like the rest of the restaurant industry, when COVID-19 ascended, Postino and the Upward Projects Team immediately put all future plans on hold and focused entirely on taking care of its teams and guests (visit www.upwardupdates.com to learn more about Postino’s high-tech health and safety measures). Fast forward to today and Upward Projects is thrilled to re-announce its Postino South Tempe opening slated for Wednesday, September 16.
Located on the NW corner of Rural and Warner roads, Postino South Tempe (8749 S. Rural Rd.) has completely transformed the former Tempe Public Market Café space, adding expansive roll-away window walls to create a seamless indoor-outdoor layout with ample room for distanced dining. Additionally, the enhanced to-go experience combines online ordering for both pickup and delivery (via www.postinowinecafe.com), contactless mobile payment, designated curbside parking spots, and steel fabricated way-finding signage to guide guests seamlessly through the pick-up experience.
Brimming with playful, funky decor, Postino South Tempe’s interior is bedecked with eclectic artwork, starting with the hostess stand – an out-of-commission 1960s Cigarette Machine used in the TV show, Mad Men. The sophistication of the space continues on through mid-century modern furniture, oversize Murano glass chandeliers and colorful tiling that set the scene for an inspired social gathering.
As a homage to Tempe’s skate-or-die roots, you won’t miss the 300 square foot custom art wall featuring a mashup of vintage skateboard ads, as well as additional depictions of 80’s and 90’s skate-culture though photographs displayed throughout the space. The photos were donated by the Valley’s long beloved skate shop, Sidewalk Surfer. Plus, as a salute to Tempe’s world-renowned independent music scene, Postino collaborated with Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona and Stinkweeds record store to source rare Tempe concert posters from the past three decades, which will be featured as a hidden design detail on the restroom ceilings. In addition, Postino South Tempe features the work of local artists, Josh Rhodes (a painter and metal worker) and Fort Guerin (a Mesa native who crafts stylized plays on the mythic Old West).
“This neighborhood is particularly personal to us,” says Lauren Bailey, Co-Founder and CEO of Upward Projects, “as our Co-Founder, Craig DeMarco, grew up in Tempe and lived the city’s vibrant street skateboarding scene for years. We are overwhelmingly enthusiastic to serve a community who has been supporting Upward Projects for a very long time, but will now have a Postino to call their own. Particularly, during a time when many of us aren’t venturing far or socializing as often, Postino South Tempe will be a safe and joyful place for the community to takeout or socially distance dine-in.”
Open daily for takeout and reduced capacity dine-in for lunch and dinner with brunch every weekend, Postino South Tempe also proudly pours a wide variety of Arizona craft brews, paired with an ever-changing selection of approachable boutique wines, including more than 30 wines by the glass. Every Saturday and Sunday (9 am – 1 pm) Postino serves up a crave-worthy brunch with $5 mimosas, plus happy hour specials, including the daily staple $5 ’til 5pm (all wines by the glass and pitchers of beer for $5 from open – 5pm) and $25 Bottle & Board on Monday & Tuesday evenings (a bottle of wine and a board of bruschetta for $25).
