Patch Spring Tour: Arizona Grille Offers Flavor of American Southwest

When I walked into the Arizona Grille Tuesday afternoon, and was greeted by a big bowl of shelled peanuts, I knew our inaugural  was off to a good start.

Owner Tom Tsopelas was nice enough to pass up a few minutes of his time and talk about his Southwest-style bar and restaurant at 8950 S. 27th St., just south of Puetz Road. 

Tsopelas opened the restaurant in 2006 and re-named it Arizona Grille three years ago. Fajitas, burgers, salads and steaks highlight the menu, and happy-hour drink specials are offered Monday through Friday.

Arizona Grille always has something going on. It hosts Team Trivia on Sunday nights, live music Saturday nights, fish fries on Fridays and Ladies Night Wednesdays (You can find all of its offerings in the events calendar on its website).

Its bar is newly-remodeld, with seven big-screen TVs and a projection screen that make it a good place to watch the local team.

But for all it has going for it, Tsopelas said he has struggled to attract a consistent crowd. For Tsopelas, it all has to do with location, location, location.

He's frustrated by the slow pace of the city's efforts to revitalize 27th Street. The lots on both sides of Arizona Grille have been vacant for some time, despite plans for a strip mall on each one.

"Nothing new has come around here," he said. "I spent a lot of money here - over $2 million. And I've had a hard time."

New development is by far the biggest key to Arizona Grille's success, Tsopelas said, and he believes the city should give more incentive for businesses to relocate to 27th Street.

"Make this more of a destination," he said of 27th Street. "Lunch time is especially hard. Nobody's shopping around here. Where you go shopping (is) where you're going to go eat."

In the meantime, Tsopelas encourages residents, especially people looking for a better option than a typical dive bar, to check out Arizona Grille.

Because a dive bar Arizona Grille is most certainly not.