Tempe, Ariz.(BriefingWire) September 17, 2012 — Revered Arizona restaurateur Julian Wright of Fork & Dagger, a bar and restaurant development company, officially announced the grand opening of long-awaited The Handlebar Tempe focuses on an exemplary selection of beers from around the world with 24 draft beers on tap, additional bottled options, rare and imported beers, local brews and beer market staples. All beers were hand-selected by Wright and Billy Clayton The Handlebar Tempe’s self-proclaimed “beer geek”. Drink offerings include innovative beer cocktails, as well as a full bar and non-alcoholic beverage options for guests.The succinct menu includes local bratwurst and sausages, hand-cut fries with house-made dipping sauces and pretzels to compliment the location’s expansive beverage selection. In keeping with Wright’s commitment to supporting the local community, the sausages are sourced by local vendors; a tradition established with Fork & Dagger’s previous, successful Mill Avenue locations La Bocca urban pizzeria + wine bar and Canteen Modern Tequila Bar.
“Sourcing foods and products locally not only supports our community – it’s an investment in the local economy and our friends and neighbors. Our customers appreciate it and frankly it just makes good business sense,” stated Julian Wright, The Handlebar Tempe’s owner. “The locavore movement is growing and we’re dedicated to meeting market demand while providing the best our local community has to offer.”
The Handlebar Tempe’s unique location is also a testament to sustainable business practices. Wright purchased an entire Midwestern barn for its reclaimed wood for internal and external facings, and the building itself is retrofitted from a former retail location to bring new life to Tempe’s historic Mill Avenue. Sustainable amenities include tank-less water heaters, motion-detection lights in the restrooms and waterless urinals. The existing floor was repurposed as stained concrete adding an earthy, urban tone to the location’s modern design.
The Handlebar Tempe is intended to be a community hot spot for urban dwellers, local business people, Arizona State University students and faculty and bicyclists. The décor features a congenial bicycle theme and the location’s 2,000 square foot “city park patio” features hand-hewn benches and tables providing an air of urban reprieve with lighted trees, a fire pit and hanging bicycle racks ensconcing the patio. Local food and beverage industry personnel are invited to take advantage of the late night menu, serving hot, fresh foods and refreshing beverages until 2am daily.
“We’ve endeavored to create a haven for the local bike community, beer lovers and industry folks,” iterates Wright. “My intention was to create an inclusive environment that Tempe’s fervent bike crowd could enjoy and serving until 2am offers an opportunity for local industry to stop in for food and drink after a long shift -- something we can definitely indentify with.”
For additional information about The Handlebar Tempe, please visit: http://www.handlebaraz.com.