It’s likely just a week or so (depending on inspections) until the venue – a pizzeria, wine lounge, and craft beer bar – opens its doors on Main Street, just west of Goldwater (map). One of the remaining tasks: Installation of the metal railing to create a small front patio.
A dark-wood bar with 36 taps is the new centerpiece of the old building, which started as a private home and has housed several businesses (including, purportedly, an illicit massage parlor).
Right now, there are only six taps at the bar. An additional 30 taps are scheduled to be installed next week (likely after Craft’s 64 opening). Bottled beers, mainly Belgians and sours, also will be available.
This space will house the 30 additional handles, all dedicated to Arizona beers. The partners even plan to drive around the state and pick up corny kegs of some non-distributed beers from the state’s 60-plus breweries.
James Swann (left), well-known in the Valley’s craft beer scene, and Roger Carpenter, former owner of Down Under Wines, are two of Craft 64’s partners. The others are Josh Ivey, also from Down Under, and Scott Hagen.
Used dark-wood furniture (which may look familiar to fans of the former Hungry Hunter in Phoenix) and rustic wine cabinets provide a casual atmosphere. More than two dozen wines by the glass will start at $8.
A community table anchors the dining area. The walls will be home to historical photos of Scottsdale. A couple of skylights let in natural light. The door in the background leads to a back patio.
The back patio, which will accommodate eight tables, is on the northside of the building. The two patios and the interior combined will seat fewer than 100 people.
The rear patio (shown from different angle) also provides access to Craft 64’s stand-alone restrooms (shown in background). To the left is the beer cooler. The gate leads to an alley area.
A wood-burning pizza oven, manned by a cook hired away from one of the Valley’s most-famous pizzerias, will produce artisan pizzas ($13-$19). Craft 64’s compact menu also will have bruschetta ($12) and salads ($11).
Craft 64 will be open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. It also will sell growlers and bottles of beer and wine to go.
