Your guide to all the restaurants and bars at The Churchill in downtown Phoenix

Bahar Anooshahr, Arizona Republic

January 13, 2023 at 8:00 AM·5 min read

Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article included an incorrect reference to the owner of Infruition and the founders of Freak Brothers.

Named after the Evans Churchill neighborhood and located in the heart of downtown Phoenix at the corner of First and Garfield streets, The Churchill is a 14,000 square-foot community space made of shipping containers that house shops, restaurants and bars, including a 9,000 square-foot courtyard where people can enjoy their food and drink. The micro mall is a stepping stone for many first-time food businesses, some of which go on to open brick-and-mortar restaurants elsewhere. This means lots of turnover but in the best way possible. This year, a few businesses, including Sauvage Bottle Shop, graduated from The Churchill, while a slew of exciting new concepts have moved in or are moving in soon.

This is your guide to all the restaurants and bars at The Churchill.

French toast style challah with coconut-pecan streusel and salted butterscotch syrup at Beginner's Luck in Old Town Scottsdale.

Restaurants at The Churchill

Freak Brothers

Whether it's the Italian electric oven that mimics a wood-fired oven, the organic ingredients, the Galbani 100% whole milk mozzarella cheese, the Sogno Toscano sauce or a combination of all, Freak Brothers founders Nathan and Jamil Coury have found the formula to make pizza lovers fawn over their pies. We are talking close the eyes, shake the head and keep saying mm-mm-mm after each bite good. The menu offers appetizers like hummus, 12-inch pizzas, like the meat freak, made with red sauce, mozzarella, sausage, bacon, pepperoni, grilled chicken and oregano flakes. They also offer a build your own "Freak-za" option along with vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and meat-free pies, desserts and beverages.

Details: freakbros.pizza.

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InFruition

Infruition took over the space formerly occupied by Foxy Fruit Acai Bowls when Freak Brothers Pizza and Alan Devine purchased the business. However the previous co-owner, Cameo Wilson has stayed on to provide mentorship to the new owners who are on a mission to do away with high sugar, watered-down products sold as "health foods" and instead offer acai bowls and smoothies using no ice, all organic produce and date puree as sweetener.

The menu includes bowls, smoothies, drinks, desserts and toasts.

Details: weareinfruition.com.

Loco Style Grindz

Loco Style Grindz opened in the space formerly occupied by Provecho after Provecho moved to Barcoa Agaveria. The restaurant serves Hawaiian barbecue plates. Some menu items include chicken katsu, teriyaki steak and garlic chicken with their secret sauce.

Details: @locostylegrindz.

The Scookie Bar

Open in the space formerly occupied by Cosas, Scookie Bar started as a dessert truck in 2016 by Laura Browder and Veanney Hurtado. They specialize in build-your-own deep dish skillet cookies. Each guest chooses a freshly baked cookie from chocolate chip, peanut butter, snickerdoodle and sugar, adds their favorite ice cream scoop from vanilla, chocolate, mint chocolate chip, birthday cake and butter pecan. Then they top it all off with chocolate chips, Oreos or sprinkles and drizzles of chocolate syrup, strawberry, caramel or honey.

Details: scookiebar.com

Stoop Kid

Created by Steven McMillen, co-owner of Berdena's, Stoop Kid was inspired by his travels to Manhattan where he fell in love with bagel sandwiches. He uses Bagelfelds bagels with different schmears.

Stoop Kid keeps it simple with just three items on the menu: bagels, burgers and coffee.

The menu's AM section includes four bagel sandwich options, like the Money Shot, which is made with spicy bacon jam schmear, marinated tomatoes, Tillamook cheddar, soft scrambled egg and a hash cake on an asiago bagel. The PM section showcases five burgers, including The Burner, made with double beef, gruyere, candied jalapeno, grilled onion and spicy sauce on a sesame bun. Fried plantains, tater chips, tots and a fresh fried mini apple pie with custard are also available.

Details: getstoopkid.com.

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Bars at The Churchill

The Brill Line

Named after J.G. Brill's late 19th, early 20th century streetcar line in Phoenix, the bar offers draft beers, ciders, wine, cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages. The 24 rotating beers list includes darks, classics, IPAs and sours. Aside from classic cocktails, The Brill Line features a menu of cocktails with playful names, such as Freddy's Lil' Prick made with Blue Clover vodka, hibiscus, prickly pear and lime topped with Big Marble ginger beer and Angostura bitters and garnished with mint, hibiscus and candied ginger.

Details: thebrillline.com.

So Far So good

With a tagline "Not Pretentious, Really Good Sh*t" this craft cocktail bar describes itself as '90s-skater-meets-'70s-rock-band amalgam. In addition to classic cocktails, the bar offers specialty cocktails with names like Take your pants off and Daiq it — made with SFSG rum blend, coffee liqueur, pineapple and lime — plus a few wines and beers.

Details: sofarsogoodphx.com.

Retail stores at The Churchill

Neighbor Market

This market opened in February in the space formerly occupied by Sauvage Bottle Shop and carries a variety of snacks, oils, jams, pickles, sauces, spices, sweets, coffee beans, wines and non-alcoholic drinks.

The passion project of two friends, the shop aims to be a gourmet pantry and gathering place for the community. For people who don't want a full meal, but want something to munch on while sipping some drinks, snacks such as chips and gourmet popcorns are available. For those on the go, pantry items like pickles, jams, oils and wine will be available to go. It's also a place for like-minded food lovers to come together for free monthly themed potlucks.

Details: neighbormarketphx.com.

State Forty Eight

This Chandler-based clothing store inspired by a love for Arizona, offering hats, shirts and accessories.

Details: statefortyeight.com.

Cayla Gray

This environmentally aware fragrance and beauty brand will replaced Gather. The store offers clean fragrances and candles. The owner of Gather will remain as the community director of The Churchill.

Details: caylagray.com.

Visit The Churchill in downtown Phoenix

The outside window of Stoop Kid in The Churchill in downtown Phoenix. The new restaurant serves up bagels, bagel sandwiches, burgers and coffee to-go.

Hours: Closed on Monday; 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday; 10:00 a.m. to midnight on Thursday; 10 to 1:30 a.m., Friday and Saturday. On Thursday to Saturday ages 21 and over hours starts at 9 p.m.

Location: 901 N. First St., Phoenix.

Details: thechurchillphx.com

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Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A guide to restaurants and bars at The Churchill in downtown Phoenix