The Village of Oak Creek’s Sedona Village Factory Outlets is being redeveloped by a new owner, with plans to revive the vacant former IMAX theater, to attract new retail and dining options and to turn approximately a third of the nine-acre property into a 117-room “Element by Westin” hotel. Rebranded as Sedona Vista Village, the 90,000-square-foot property has historically struggled to retain both franchise and independent retail tenants; the occupancy rate has remained near 50 percent since … [Read more...] about VOC Outlet Mall Becomes Sedona Vista Village
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Carmels Serving Simple Food, Out of this World Atmosphere
Flagstaff’s Southside renaissance continues with a new restaurant that offers no frills, simple food while paying homage to Flagstaff’s space training heritage. Owner Patrick Flanigan opened Carmels in June after hearing what the community wants in terms of food and atmosphere. “I didn’t want Scottsdale in Flagstaff. I’ve got an old building in a historic place and wanted everything to look like it belonged here,” he said. The result is an eatery touched with elements of nostalgia. The … [Read more...] about Carmels Serving Simple Food, Out of this World Atmosphere
New Pizzeria Wants Your Pie to be Healthy
The personality of pizza has changed over the years… and much for the good of our health. The legendary and oh-so-popular flat bread has morphed into a hearty all-inclusive meal, which Your Pie Flagstaff is set to serve when it opens March 2018. Owners Pete and Lisa Muscarella plan to be dishing up a clean, high-quality, healthy menu that will include custom handcrafted, build-your-own pizzas and paninis baked in a brick oven. Chopped salads, sorbets and rich gelato will follow, along with wine … [Read more...] about New Pizzeria Wants Your Pie to be Healthy
Historic Maps Chart Path to Understanding, Honoring the Past
Maps used by early Arizona Babbitts are now preserved and available in the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library. Reference librarian and Babbitt relative Claudine Taillac says the weathered, frayed and stained documents likely were carried in pockets or saddlebags as ranchers rode horseback and moved cattle to pastures and water sources. Taillac has been carefully preserving the documents this summer. Previously, they had been stored in the Babbitt Building and were donated to the … [Read more...] about Historic Maps Chart Path to Understanding, Honoring the Past
When Stars Align, Businesses Appear
If location, location, location applies to lemonade stand success, best friends Ellia Williams, age nine, Lexi Arias, age eight, and little brother Evan Arias, age six, may well be the smartest and youngest entrepreneurs in the path of totality. Their pop-up street-side business, Solar Sips, no doubt brought in enough revenue the day before the total solar eclipse for them to achieve their financial goals: Ellia plans to use the money for a Hoverboard; Lexi wants an eclipse t-shirt; and Evan … [Read more...] about When Stars Align, Businesses Appear
Escaping to Indoor Adventure
What do you do if your family is too active to sit around and play board games? According to Vanessa Roer, you spend a lot of time outdoors and then you open Flagstaff Escape Rooms with your husband. She and Jacob opened the business six weeks ago and things are picking up steadily. “We’ve had really good reviews and players have been happy and have had a good time,” she said. She says that the Escape Room concept started in Japan, was then launched online across Europe, and then more … [Read more...] about Escaping to Indoor Adventure
Room to Grow
Perhaps it was a forecast of their future in the travel industry when Monika and Yves Leuenberger met 40 years ago. Monika was only 10 years old. Both of their families were vacationing at separate homes in Brusino, a municipality in the canton of Ticino on Lake Lugano in Southern Switzerland, about a mile from the Italian border. “Our families vacationed together year after year and all of us became close friends,” Monika recalled. The Leuenbergers are both Swiss natives, Monika from a … [Read more...] about Room to Grow
Celebrating General Tuthill and the County’s Historic Quad Restoration
The Historic Fort Tuthill Quad, a celebrated site rich in history and significance for our community, was recently renovated with $4 million in improvements. To honor the successful completion of these improvements, Coconino County Parks and Recreation dedicated the Historic Quad on Aug. 15, and shared this momentous occasion with about 100 guests in attendance. Among the community leaders and special guests at the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was Jim Warbasse, 86, who spoke about … [Read more...] about Celebrating General Tuthill and the County’s Historic Quad Restoration
Kahtoola Helping to Inspire the World with Engineering Solutions
Kyle Maynard and his long-time friend and business partner Joey Leonardo know all about failure. Before becoming world-class mountaineers, they were not even campers. “We didn’t know how to put up a tent,” said Joey. Today, they have over-the-top memories of viewing the world from some of the world’s highest peaks. But, getting there took a rocky path and a mountain of challenges. Their climb in every endeavor is strewn with seemingly insurmountable difficulties. Their success across slippery … [Read more...] about Kahtoola Helping to Inspire the World with Engineering Solutions
Serving History with a Helping of SLO Restaurant Concepts
Restauranteur Paul Moir is integrating his passion for sustainable, local and organic food with the new Grand Canyon Café. The Route 66 landmark has been serving locals since the 1940s, and on Saturday, Sept. 23, the diner will officially celebrate its renovation and new ownership. Moir, who owns Brix, Criollo Latin Kitchen and Proper Meats and Provisions, says the Grand Canyon Café remodel maintains the flavor of the iconic Route 66 diner. The menu does, as well, by continuing to offer … [Read more...] about Serving History with a Helping of SLO Restaurant Concepts