Canadian-based board game bar to open first US location in Tempe

PHOENIX — A Canadian-based board game bar and cafe will break into the U.S. market with a new location in Tempe that it was planning to open sometime this summer.

Snakes and Lattes, owned by Amfil Technologies Inc., announced Monday that it will open on Mill Avenue with the lease agreement expected to be signed this week.

The bar will be located on Fifth Street and Mill Avenue where the old Z’Tejas restaurant was. 

“It was just a matter of time before Snakes & Lattes Inc. broke south of the border and began penetrating the United States,” Roger Mortimer, CEO and president, said in a press release.

“The most important thing for the company is canvassing areas for choice locations and not rushing off into just any building or locale. The company believes Tempe, AZ is perfect to begin gaining traction in the US market and we envision many more locations to come in the not too distant future,” Mortimer said.

The company will rent a residential property for six months for Snakes and Lattes management and staff from Toronto as they oversee and ease the renovation and transition periods.

The project was fully funded by a private investor in Phoenix who also committed to six additional locations in the west and southwest United States over the next five years.

Z’Tejas closed its Mill Avenue location, along with two other locations, in October.