Roosevelt Row is about to get a fresh home base for game day and late nights when Pinky’s Sports Grill moves into the former Angel’s Trumpet space this summer. The new spot is billed as an Americana-style sports grill, with the team promising unfussy, affordable bar staples like wings, stadium dogs, nachos and rodeo sliders, plus plenty of TVs, vintage neon and classic bar games. Pinky’s is scheduled to open June 1 at the corner of Second and McKinley and will feature a dog-friendly patio set up with communal picnic tables.
Pinky’s is a partnership between hospitality veterans Robert Cissell, Ariel Bracamonte and developer Chuckie Duff, who are turning the block-front storefront into a laid-back pool-and-sports bar. “It’s the kind of place that I spend my time in,” Cissell told Phoenix New Times, adding that the goal is to keep prices low. The team is planning a 10-tap beer lineup with bottles and cans in the mix and what Cissell described as “classic, straightforward” cocktails, according to the reporting.
The address at 810 North Second Street has long been associated with Angel’s Trumpet Ale House, known for its large rotating beer list and expansive, dog-friendly patio. The venue’s website lists the downtown location and emphasizes its beer-forward menu alongside outdoor seating that welcomes four-legged regulars. That long-standing presence has helped make the corner a familiar hangout for craft beer fans and late-night snack seekers, as detailed on the restaurant’s own site for its downtown location at Angel’s Trumpet Ale House.
Angel’s Trumpet closed after 13 years at the end of October 2025, leaving the prominent corner ready for a new concept. As reported by Phoenix New Times, the gastropub had been a downtown fixture since 2012. Pinky’s ownership group has already started interior and exterior renovations to prepare the block storefront for the planned June opening.
Owners and downtown roots
Cissell and Duff are no strangers to downtown Phoenix, having teamed up on other concepts, including the gemstone-inspired Quartz cocktail bar, a project covered by Arizona Foothills. Bracamonte brings additional experience running neighborhood nightlife spots in Roosevelt Row, giving the trio a deep bench of local bar know-how. Broader nightlife coverage has also highlighted the rise of game-focused bars around Phoenix, a trend outlined by Cronkite News, which helps explain why Pinky’s plans include pool, darts and a jukebox in the mix.
What to expect
Inside, Pinky’s is expected to lean into a classic sports-bar vibe, with TVs mounted over the bar, vintage neon glowing across the room, a jukebox humming in the corner and pool and darts on offer. Out on the patio, communal picnic tables will extend the casual feel. The menu is set to center on shareable, budget-conscious plates and a lineup of easy-drinking beers and straightforward cocktails rather than high-end tasting menus. Pinky’s remains slated for a June 1 opening as renovations wrap and the owners lock in final menus and programming.
