Back in February, perennial James Beard Award nominee Kevin Binkley announced his intention to close his flagship restaurant, Binkley’s in Cave Creek, this summer.
Now we know what’s next for the building, which closed July 2. According to AZ Central, Obed de la Cruz, owner of El Zocalo Mexican Grill in downtown Chandler, plans to turn it into two restaurants.
The former bakery portion will become a fast-casual Mexican concept called Burritoholics, scheduled to open in late September.
The former main dining space will become a full-service Mexican restaurant featuring a simplified version of the menu from Mejico Cocina Mejicana, which de la Cruz opened in Phoenix in 2014.
The extended De la Cruz family also owns and operates El Sol Mexican Cafe & Bakery in Chandler, Mangos Mexican Cafe in Mesa, and Phoenix Burrito House.
Binkley also has sold his Bink’s Kitchen + Bar in Scottsdale to Peter Micakaj and his children, Paul Micakaj and Pauline Martinez. (Martinez and her husband operate Perk Eatery in Scottsdale.)
A new concept will be unveiled later this year.
The sales leave Binkley with two restaurants: Cafe Bink in Carefree and the under-renovation Bink’s Midtown in Phoenix. The latter is scheduled to be relaunched this fall.
