End NEW IN TOWN
DIVE IN
Upscale neighborhood bar, High Dive opens in Arcadia
BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ / PHOTOS BY J. MARTIN HARRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
Over the past several years, the Square One Concepts, Inc. brand has exploded across the Valley with the opening of nine local Cold Beers & Cheeseburger restaurants (and three more pending opening by fall 2019) as well as with the launch of their steakhouse concept, Bourbon & Bones. Blue Print Hospitality Group – the team behind the management of nook Kitchen in Downtown Phoenix, The Bar in Arcadia and more – has had similar success. And now, together, their teams hope to have similar resounding success by partnering to conceptualize and open High Dive. Located just west of 44th Street on Indian School Road in the 3,200-squarefoot space formerly occupied by the Yacht Club, High Dive is billed by the combined groups as “Central Phoenix and Arcadia’s first ‘high-class dive bar.’” “High Dive is not your typical dive bar; we’ve combined a light and airy atmosphere with the comforts of a dive bar, great food, cozy seating and a staff that knows your name, all right here in Arcadia. This is the place to unwind with friends or simply relax at the bar and enjoy a drink after work,” says S. Barrett
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Rinzler, president and CEO of Square One Concepts. Visually, the space features quite the entry: a massive Jaws graphic on the ceiling that is impossible to miss when entering the venue. Upon entering, there are 99 bottles of actual beer on the walls – like the song – and a combination of vintage album covers and imagery of 1950s pinup girls covering the walls. Quality furnishings like upholstered horseshoe booths and banquettes, wood high-tops with tufted honey leather bar stools, a full-service bar with a walnut top, and windows that open seamlessly to views of Camelback Mountain finish the look. There are also plenty of entertainment options, including board games, darts and arcade games positioned throughout the space. At first glance, the menu – while not specifically burger focused – certainly has the vibe of Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers with sliders, tacos, chicken wings and nachos. But, upon further inspection, there are also several “fancier” options tailored toward those with food allergies and health-conscious lifestyles including a quinoa bowl ($14) with seasoned sunflower seeds, onion, red and green peppers, and a teriyaki bowl ($12) featuring grilled chicken breast with red and green peppers, onion, broccoli, teriyaki sauce and brown rice. The wine, beer and cocktail menu is similarly dually focused on those wanting “divethemed” options and those wanting more highbrow options, offering everything from Natural “Natty Ice” Ice and Coors Light to Huss Scottsdale Blonde and Dom Perignon. High Dive is open Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour, with deals on both food and drink, is offered Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. 4231 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix; 480.758.4994; www.highdiveaz.com.