The new 2-story building at the Old Firehouse Plaza has been open several months, the boutiques, gallery and requisite upscale eatery are in place, though a local favorite, Biff's Bagels is gone, which is too bad. Thus far, its space remains empty...
...as are some of the courtyard tables.
However, the R.E.D. theme is hard to miss. Though my introduction seems sardonic, I actually find the new Old Firehouse Plaza quite attractive; maybe the R.E.D.-ness is one reason. But I think it is primarily the scale: small, intimate -- and cool in the summer.
An added attraction: the R.E.D. dress overlooking the scene to keep order.
The signs are suitably upscale (and R.E.D.); a discrete flame is incorporated in the otherwise plain iron work of the balconies.
About the Firehouse Plaza, a bit of history (if 15 or 20 years ago counts as
history). In the 80s, the city had decommissioned the fire station building that is the foundation of the Plaza; Paul Murphy, then a hot young local restaurateur, applied for a license to operate a restaurant and brewpub in that location. The matter went before the city council, which turned Murphy down flat, arguing that a microbrewery would use too much water. It was only a handful of years later that the Prescott Brewing Company opened in Bashford Courts. No mention was made of Murphy's would-be brewery. Thus is history written, as inconvenient facts are banished into a civic black hole. Didn't even find anything at the first several pages of my consultation with The Google.
The new 2-story building at the Old Firehouse Plaza has been open several months, the boutiques, gallery and requisite upscale eatery are in place, though a local favorite, Biff's Bagels is gone, which is too bad. Thus far, its space remains empty...
...as are some of the courtyard tables.
However, the R.E.D. theme is hard to miss. Though my introduction seems sardonic, I actually find the new Old Firehouse Plaza quite attractive; maybe the R.E.D.-ness is one reason. But I think it is primarily the scale: small, intimate -- and cool in the summer.
An added attraction: the R.E.D. dress overlooking the scene to keep order.
The signs are suitably upscale (and R.E.D.); a discrete flame is incorporated in the otherwise plain iron work of the balconies.
About the Firehouse Plaza, a bit of history (if 15 or 20 years ago counts as history). In the 80s, the city had decommissioned the fire station building that is the foundation of the Plaza; Paul Murphy, then a hot young local restaurateur, applied for a license to operate a restaurant and brewpub in that location. The matter went before the city council, which turned Murphy down flat, arguing that a microbrewery would use too much water. It was only a handful of years later that the Prescott Brewing Company opened in Bashford Courts. No mention was made of Murphy's would-be brewery. Thus is history written, as inconvenient facts are banished into a civic black hole. Didn't even find anything at the first several pages of my consultation with The Google.
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