I stopped at Ginger Monkey to get an update from owner Doug Collins on his latest project, which is taking shape in the former Whiskey Rose Saloon building on the southwest corner of Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo.
Although there’s still some construction work to do, Collins says he’s hoping to open in September.
Despite what connotations the name may have, it’s not an Asian restaurant, but rather a restaurant/bar/grill/roadhouse/sports bar hybrid, according to Collins, who’s partnering with Jackson Armstrong.
(Collins has opened restaurants and bars from San Diego to Atlanta, but is best-known in the Valley for the Tavern on Mill in Tempe and Public Garage House in Ahwatukee, both of which he sold.)
Ginger Monkey’s menu will fall under the catch-all “New American.‘‘ It’s still being developed, but there are few restrictions, given the kitchen occupies 2,000 of the building’s 6,600 square feet.
The Ginger Monkey name, if you’re wondering, comes from Collins’ fascination with monkeys. In fact, he’d like to open several spinoffs with various ‘‘(Blank) Monkey’’ names, such as Red Monkey, etc.
The entrance is being moved from the middle of the north side to the northwest corner. A front patio will be built between the building and Ocotillo.
There’ll be a full bar with 30 beers on tap. Like Whiskey Rose, Collins would like to do live music on weekends.
‘‘If that’s what customers want,’’ he says. ‘‘I’m waiting for the neighborhood to tell me what we should have.’’
