The Churchill reopens its doors in Phoenix after coronavirus closure

PHOENIX — Downtown Phoenix marketplace The Churchill reopened its doors to the public on Friday after closing because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The reopened space, located at First and Garfield streets on Roosevelt Row, features a new tenant, in New York-style bagel and coffee shop Stoop Kid. It replaces Commander Hamburger, which closed permanently in August.

The Churchill will limit seating capacity to 50% per Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive order for restaurants returning to dine-in service.

The venue will continue its existing to-go food and drinks offerings, including pre-packaged food boxes featuring locally-produced bread, meats and produce, according to the company’s press release.

Kell Duncan, who is a co-owner of the downtown space, told KTAR News 92.3 FM in May that The Churchill would add plastic face guards and sanitizer stations upon reopening.

Duncan also described the difficulty of reopening during a pandemic and ramping up a restaurant space in the midst of virus-related uncertainty.

“It’s not a light switch in terms of turning it on and off,” Duncan said in May. “If we get ready to open and then we have to close again, that’s going to cost us pretty dearly.”

The Churchill’s new hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Tuesdays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The space will be closed on Mondays, according to the release.

The marketplace, which houses 10 restaurants, bars and retail shops, opened in 2018.

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