Tommy Plato, a familiar face in the Old Town Scottsdale dining scene, closed the doors to his decade-old restaurant Second Story on May 4th to embark on a fresher venture, The Ends, channeling the globe-trotting culinary spirit of the late Anthony Bourdain. The new eatery, set to open its doors on June 1st, is taking over the former spot of the wine and whiskey bar Kazimierz at 7137 E. Stetson Drive, as detailed in an interview with the Business Journal.
Having made headlines with the closure of Second Story, situated at 4166 N. Scottsdale Road, Plato is leasing the former restaurant's building to Velvet Taco, a Texas-based Mexican chain expanding its presence across states in bout of statesmanship. Velvet Taco previously lacked outlets in the Valley, according to a report from abc15.com. Even though Plato stepped back from Kazimierz in 2023 to clear the path for The Ends, the scent of a new beginning is already enveloping the area of its yet-to-open doors.
Plato's recent life changes, marked by sobriety and broad travels, are echoed in The Ends' culinary aspiration, drawing heavily from Bourdain's iconic approach to food and culture. "I just feel such a connection to Bourdain because there was this culture of travel and experience behind his being," Plato told the Business Journal. The restaurant intends to capture this essence in The Bourdain Room, an exclusive dining area offering a menu that's a voyage in itself.
Inheriting the flame from Second Story, Plato is ushering the same team, led by Executive Chef Jordano Sessions, into The Ends. Before its conclusion, Second Story was a testing ground for some of the forthcoming dishes The Ends will be featuring, aiming to deliver a dining experience for a curated crowd. "It's different than what most of Scottsdale is because the crowd that I'm going for is a curated one," Plato, despite never having met Bourdain, feels connected to his legacy having friends close who had interactions with the celebrated chef, narrated to the Business Journal.
Named after a neighborhood in London and evoking the pleasures of friendship, weekends, and worldly exploration, The Ends signals Plato's potentially last hurrah in its Scottsdale spot. The current lease holds a termination clause contingent on City Council's nod for a redevelopment project planned by the building's landowner, David Sellers. "I don't know when the end will be here," said Plato, indicating a transient existence for The Ends, as he prepares for a genuine endeavor without partners, as highlighted in the Business Journal report.
