Valley restaurateur Mark Tarbell and real estate juggernaut George Oliver Cos. have struck a deal that's cooking up major changes at an iconic Phoenix building. Tarbell, famed for his Camelback Corridor eaterie, is set to oversee the food and beverage operations at the up-and-coming Bond office redevelopment, a nearly 300,000-square-foot project transforming the former Biltmore Commerce Center, as per a recent report by the Business Journal.
The collaboration promises to dish out an eclectic mix of dining options including Cultivate, a full-service coffee, cocktail, and food service bar, and a speakeasy hidden below named The Vault. Adding to the flavor, office employees at Bond will have access to delivery services courtesy of a building-specific mobile app, the Business Journal detailed. The move is part of George Oliver's hefty investment into the area - a cool $52 million earmarked for renovation of a property it snagged last summer for $61 million.
George Oliver's Curt Kremer shared the journey to their perfect food and beverage partnership, starting with a wishlist and ending with Mark Tarbell's name atop. As told to the Phoenix Business Journal, the pursuit of excellence led the two businessmen to meet through a mutual friend, who organized an epic 16-mile hike that tested their endurance and solidified their partnership goals.
Providing insights into their grueling bonding experience, Tarbell recounted, "We were swimming through 50-degree lakes and scaling boulders." It was during the strenuous hike that Kremer pitched his food and beverage vision for Bond, a pitch that resonated with Tarbell's penchant for reimagining spaces. The restaurateur noted, "This building, of course I'm familiar with it, and I always thought it was unrealized potential,” expressing his alignment with Kremer's vision.
Tarbell's local impact already includes several establishments not just on the Camelback Corridor but also within Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, ensuring his culinary signature is widespread across the city's landscape. With Bond, the aim is to mix convenience with class, granting tenants and the public alike a taste of top-quality fare right where they work.
