The Genuine abruptly closes after 3-plus years on 16th Street in central Phoenix

PHOENIX – Three-plus years after debuting in central Phoenix, The Genuine abruptly closed its doors for good.

The restaurant on 16th Street north of Bethany Home Road served its last meals and beverages on Thursday night after announcing the shutdown on social media that morning.

Genuine Concepts, the restaurant group best known for The Vig, billed The Genuine as its new “flagship concept” when it opened in April 2022. It replaced a Vig location in a building that was originally a midcentury bank designed by noted Phoenix architect Ralph Haver.

Genuine Concepts kept its corporate office in the back of the building, but it has outgrown the space.

“The time has come for us to expand our corporate office and continue fueling the growth of The Vig and our other projects,” says a note on The Genuine website that was also posted to the restaurant’s social media pages.

What will replace The Genuine in Phoenix?

According to the note, an unnamed local company will take over the space.

“We’re happy to share that another innovative and excellent local hospitality group will be bringing an all-new concept to the ‘hood,” the note says.

In addition to a growing number of The Vigs, Genuine Concepts operates Campo Italian Bistro and Bar in Scottsdale, Phoenix bars The Little Woody and The Womack, and The McMillan Bar and Kitchen in Flagstaff.

In July, the seventh The Vig location – and first in the East Valley – opened in Mesa. Another branch is in the works at PV, the new mixed-use development at the former Paradise Valley Mall site in Phoenix.

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