Talk about a blast from the past: Minder Binders is back!
OK, so the new Mission-style complex doesn’t look anything like the giant red barn that stood on the northeast corner of McClintock and University in Tempe for more than three decades.
And the name has been changed to The Mission @ Minder Binder.
But those who’ve watched two years of renovations of the iconic two-story landmark can rest easy: A remarkable amount of the beloved building’s interior was preserved.
That includes the wooden booths made from former church pews, shiny with new layers of varnish but still displaying various city names and the graffiti scratches of a thousand previous occupants.
Each was painstakingly removed, repaired, and returned to its exact position encircling the long bar island. The eclectic collection of memorabilia, antiques, and junk still hangs from same spots on the walls and ceilings.
Minder Binders opened in 1972 and grew into a popular burgers-and-beer destination for ASU students and locals alike. It abruptly closed in 2005, badly in need of repairs.
Thank the Bell family – owners of San Tan Flat in Queen Creek – who spent two years and more than a few bucks to preserve a piece of Valley history.
“Our rule of thumb was anything that customers could see or touch should be restored,” says Kristen Bell, who will run the place. “But we had to put in new floors, a new roof, a new kitchen…”
The barn-like exterior could not be saved and has been replaced by a stucco finish similar to San Tan Flat. Most of the former parking lot along McClintock has been converted into a beautiful walled courtyard with a fountain, a fireplace, and a fire pit.
Also gone are the sand volleyball courts in back. Now that area is the parking lot (although the cedar fencing around the courts was repurposed as part of the bar inside).
The main entrance now is located at what used to be the rear of the building, facing University.
For now, there’s a limited menu of appetizers, salads, 12-inch pizzas ($13-$17) , and burgers and sandwiches ($10-$12). Bell, who opened a small pizzeria in her home state of South Dakota, is especially excited about the pizza.
“We have a 140-year-old sourdough starter,” she says, also noting, “In South Dakota I have 1,400 square feet. Here I have 14,000 square feet with 400 seats.”
Additional food items slowly will be added to menu as soon as next week. Look for more pizza options, as well as dinner entrees like steak, salmon, and barbecued ribs.
The Mission @ Minder Binder currently opens at 4 p.m. daily, but Bell expects to open at 11 a.m. in a few weeks.
Happy hour – with $1 off all beer, wine, and cocktails – is 4-6 p.m. daily and likely will expand to 2-6 p.m. when lunch service starts.
