Vintage 95, a five-year-old restaurant and wine bar in downtown Chandler, closed its doors over the weekend.
But there is some good news: A brand-new concept from some well-known East Valley restaurateurs is taking its place.
The new venture is a partnership between Julian Wright, owner of Pedal Haus Brewery in downtown Tempe, and Jim Bob and Kelsey Strothers, owners of Worth Takeaway in downtown Mesa.
‘‘It will be called Equal Parts and be equal parts bar and restaurant with fairly equal indoor-outdoor dining environments,’’ Wright explains.
At this point, final details are still being worked out.
‘‘We will most likely have an exhibition kitchen featuring rustic northern Italian cuisine cooked over hardwood and featuring many local food partners,’’ Wright says. ‘‘We’ll also have local craft beer and a good cocktail program.’’
Wright (pictured) is well-known to Mill Avenue diners. His previous concepts include The Library, La Bocca Urban Pizzeria, Modern Margarita, and The Handlebar, among others.
Wright sold La Bocca and Modern Margarita last year, and the new owners expanded each to downtown Chandler. Now Wright is heading that direction, too.
‘‘We’re excited to join our other restaurant friends in Chandler as we think downtown Chandler has a great vibe and we love the historic nature of the 95 W. Boston building,’’ he says.
Craig and Tricia Hills, along with Gavin Jacobs, opened Vintage 95 in November 2011, taking over short-lived Asian restaurant Siracha.
Jacobs eventually left the restaurant and launched The Brickyard Downtown just two doors down.
Look for Equal Parts to start construction in May and open in September.
