4 New Businesses on Mill Avenue
My neighborhood is getting 4 new independent businesses next month and I fully support this return to the the “old” Mill Avenue.
While I wasn’t sad to see Borders go, per se, I do miss the space. The little coffee shop inside was a nice place to kill some time while hanging out on the south end of Mill. Now it’s just a big empty space with the ubiquitous “space available” sign in the window.
However, 4 different “space available” signs will soon be removed and filled with new people with new ideas.
On the corner of 7th and Mill Kanpai Sushi will take the spot of the old Uno Chicago Grill. (Uno’s Pizza had been a Mill Ave staple for many years and I was surprised to see it go.) Ra Sushi is on 5th and I’m not sure if Mill is ready for two shush joints so close together. We’ll see. 
A block north on 6th and Mill Canteen Modern Tequila Bar will take move into the spot formally occupied by Regions Bistro & Bar. Canteen promises to offer over 100 brands of tequila and is owned by Julian Wright, the owner of the fabulous La Bocca, which is basically across the street. If Canteen is as classy as La Bocca then it will be a huge success. Mill doesn’t need anymore filthy dive bars that appeal to drunk, horny college kids. Mill needs more mature places. 
Poppa Maize is finally moving into the old Sportsfan apparel store next to MADCAP Theatre, just west of Mill on 7th. The owners, Qiana Shaw and Roy Wilson, had so much success with their gourmet popcorn shop in north Phoenix that many of their customers asked them to expand closer to the city. Mill Ave is a tough place to do business and rents are not cheap, but the Downtown Tempe Community sponsored a contest for independent business to win one year of free rent. Poppa Maize was selected. They offer 26 unusual popcorn flavors like cake batter, white chocolate and cherry, and cookies and cream.
Finally, the 4th new spot opening isn’t a new comer, they have just been on hiatus for a decade. Stan’s Metro Deli was a traditional Jewish deli that closed in 1990 after a kitchen fire destroyed the building. The deli reopened soon after but closed in the late 90s. Now they are back and will be located on the corner of 4th St and Mill where two Vietnamese restaurants, a Brooklyn cafe and numerous other things have been.
I’ve been saying that corner is cursed and I hope I wrong. The only other deli, Downtown Deli, on 3rd closed suddenly last year. Mill needs a deli.
