I need to be in Old Town Peoria this morning at 8:00, so I leave the house at my usual way-to-early time in the morning and head that way. I like to get where I’m going before traffic gets bad, and I can always find a coffee shop to work from, right?
This morning I criss-crossed South Peoria for 20 minutes before finding It’s a Grind on Thunderbird and 84th Ave. (technically it’s probably considered north of South Peoria, but it’s the closest I could find!)
The quick review:
a clean, wobble-free table, a strong cup of coffee, a friendly girl behind the counter, free wi-fi, blue-sy music at a reasonable volume, and the only option in this part of town..! Overall, better than average in just about every category, although nothing stands out to me as outstanding, or very different from any other coffee shop.
ps. Safeway at 83rd & Cactus displays a big sign advertising their cafe inside. Here’s a tip: what Safeway calls a ‘cafe’, other stores refer to as a deli. sheesh.
Your grateful for this cup of joe Realtor,
Chris Butterworth
Chris Butterworth is a Realtor. He's also a husband, father, writer, amateur photographer, and self-proclaimed tech junkie. And he's an all-around good guy!
Can downtown Peoria become a vibrant center for art and artists, similar to the SoHo district in Manhattan?
Last summer the City of Peoria hired an arts consulting firm to develop an arts and culture plan. Recently the firm unveiled their proposal, featuring plenty of live-work space.
I’m not convinced the plan will succeed, but I applaud Peoria for trying. I can picture downtown Peoria being cool & hip - it’s already a little bit quirky, urban, and walking-friendly, but it definitely needs some revitalization.
I’m concerned about the amount of competition from the Phoenix Arts District and Tempe’s Mill Avenue, which are already connected to each other by the light rail. And there are only so many artists out there; Peoria might find themselves on the outside looking in on this one. On the other hand, being only a couple of miles from Glendale’s stadium district, including Westgate and Park West, could be advantageous.
Your wishing the project great success Realtor,
Chris Butterworth
Chris Butterworth is a Realtor. He's also a husband, father, writer, amateur photographer, and self-proclaimed tech junkie. And he's an all-around good guy!