Recent metro Phoenix restaurant closures include a burger joint and a 44-year-old bar

Bahar Anooshahr, Arizona Republic
·2 min read

In February, metro Phoenix said goodbye to several bars and restaurants including a pair of long-standing sports bars, a famous local pizza shop, a Mexican seafood restaurant, a burger joint and a popular Tempe tiki bar that shuttered without notice, causing much speculation among fans and leaving them to do their own detective work to find answers. Most closures happened quietly and all were permanent.

One classic spot closed after more than four decades, while another shuttered after less than a year. Most fell somewhere in-between.

Here's a look at restaurants and bars that closed recently in Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler and Glendale.

The Golden Pineapple Craft Lounge

This Tempe restaurant closed on Sept. 9 for "kitchen renovations," according to an Instagram post. And it never reopened. In a December Reddit thread, one of the Redditors posted a photo of a notice of landlord's lien taped to the restaurant's door.

G Bar G

This longtime Mesa bar has permanently closed months after owner Kim Kolacek died in August 2023. A Feb. 13 Facebook post read, "G Bar G is officially close. No one will be monitoring this account." Patrons expressed disappointment. "So sad," wrote The Band Bldg-12. "A few good times there. Another awesome east valley landmark bar gone."

Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill

Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill in Phoenix closed on Monday, Feb.12 after 18 years.

A Facebook post dated on Jan. 31 announced that the landlord had decided to tear down the building on Highland Avenue in the Biltmore area and replace it with apartments.

Half Moon Sports Grill on Greenway Parkway in Phoenix will remain open.

Matty G's Steakburgers and Lobsta' Rolls

Matty G's closed its Gilbert location after two years. The owner announced it in a Facebook post dated Feb. 13. "Unfortunately due to my continuing health issues, we have decided to sell the restaurant to an awesome breakfast spot called Bisbee Breakfast Club." The Mesa and Flagstaff locations remain open.

The Max's Sports Bar mascot was an eagle carrying or wearing paraphernalia from just about every sport imaginable. It stood in the lobby of the longtime Glendale sports bar, which closed in October 2023 after 44 years.
The Max's Sports Bar mascot was an eagle carrying or wearing paraphernalia from just about every sport imaginable. It stood in the lobby of the longtime Glendale sports bar, which closed in October 2023 after 44 years.

Max's Sports Bar

Located at the corner of Ocotillo Road and 47th Avenue, Max's closed after 44 years. The bar changed hands a couple times until in 2002, Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company, took ownership of the bar as part of the Off-Track Betting network that it operated in the area.

According to Glen White, Delaware North's director of corporate communications, the company operated Max's until 2023 when it "sold the building housing Max’s to a company that was planning to use it for another purpose."

Sr. Ozzy's Tacos y Mariscos Chandler

Sr. Ozzy's, home to Mexican seafood and sushi, closed its Chandler location without announcement after less than a year in business. The South Phoenix and Glendale locations remain open.

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Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @banooshahr on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix restaurants that closed in February — one after 44 years