RePUBLic, a hybrid sports bar, live-music venue and cue club, is set to bring pool tables, big screens and bands together on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. The project comes from local operator Scott Price of C.A.S.A., with an initial goal of rolling out openings and programming by August 2026.
What to expect
Downtown Tempe lists Republic Tempe among the corridor's upcoming businesses and pegs the debut for August 2026. Reporting from WhatNow says the venue's Instagram highlights a mix of live music, a sports-bar feel and what it calls "the revival of a neighborhood cue club." That coverage also places the project at 607 S. Mill Ave, just south of Sixth Street.
Who is behind it
Phoenix New Times identifies Scott Price, the operator behind downtown staples including C.A.S.A., Shady Park and Darkstar, as the owner of the RePUBLic project and reports that he plans to expand C.A.S.A. alongside the new buildout. Local reporting has also pointed to Price's veteran background and philanthropic streak, such as community feedings and fundraising tailgates, which operators say help ground new concepts in Mill Avenue's existing community.
Where the space comes from
Announcements indicate RePUBLic will take over the neighboring Zuma Grill and Mill Cue Club spaces on Mill between Fifth and Sixth streets, filling the combined 605–607 S. Mill Ave block. Mill Cue Club has long been associated with that address in local listings and review pages, and the new concept is being framed as a modern spin on that pool-hall energy. Actual construction and opening timelines will hinge on permits and the usual downtown renovation buildout process.
How it fits Mill Avenue's resurgence
RePUBLic joins a run of recent and upcoming arrivals on Mill Avenue as operators work to broaden the strip's draw beyond the late-night-only set. Phoenix New Times has tracked several of those new concepts, from burger and brewery spots to dessert-focused additions, and notes that city leaders are trying to streamline approvals to attract more tenants.
Price's RePUBLic is pitched as a crossover hangout where ASU students and longtime downtown regulars can share the same space, with pool tables and televised games during the week and live music built on Price's experience with performance venues. For updates on construction progress and timing as the team heads toward the August 2026 target, keep an eye on the Downtown Tempe listing and the venue's social channels.
