- Kristen Brockell
- The Stew de Mar from Saint House
In what’s a particular bummer to me since I really enjoyed the food and drinks there (RIP, to the Clement Agricole daiquiri) but even more so to the owners and staff, Saint House had their last night of service Saturday night.
Nicole Flowers and Travis Reese, the owners of Saint House, will continue to operate 47 Scott and Scott and Co. downtown.
From the press release:
Located downtown on Congress and Arizona Ave, Saint House Island Bistro and Rum Bar announced its final day of service was yesterday November 1. Open since August 2013, managing company Flowers Hospitality Unlimited and landlord 5 North 5th LLC look forward to new opportunities as diners continue to flock downtown.
Proprietors Nicole Flowers and Travis Reese confess that Cuban cuisine and island-inspired seafood served in the desert Southwest was always going to be a stretch. “We tried to do something new and different with Saint House,” said Flowers. “But the focused concept just didn’t catch on the way we planned in the burgeoning downtown marketplace.”
Saint House is one of over a dozen restaurants to enter downtown’s blossoming East End. Recently, the acclaimed James Beard award winning restaurant, Pizzeria Bianco, opened on Fifth and Congress to wide and resounding reception from Tucsonans, affirming downtown’s reputation as an exciting culinary destination.
“While Saint House was a fun addition to the block, the flurry of demand for new restaurants in downtown Tucson means change is inevitable,” said landlord Scott Stiteler.
Stiteler’s renovations of the 5th Ave and Congress block are at the center of downtown’s revitalization. “Over the past two years, we have been approached by about two dozen restaurant operators who want a chance to open in one of the historic buildings,” he said.
Stiteler added that the new hotel, AC Tucson by Marriott, scheduled to break ground in early 2015, will add additional demand to the restaurant scene.
The space that opened as Saint House in 2013 will become available during the latter part of this year as Travis Reese and Nicole Flowers travel one block away to their original roots on Scott Ave between Congress and Pennington. Flowers and Reese also own and operate 47 Scott, an intimate bistro serving modern American comfort food and Scott & Co, a speakeasy style bar specializing in craft cocktails.
“The hardest thing about all of this is having to lose our staff,” said Reese. “They are knowledgable, professional and incredibly passionate. We were lucky to have them, and know they will make their future employer feel the same way.”
The pair look forward to serving the growing number of patrons at 47 Scott, adding that they “can’t wait to see what new concept joins the East End of Congress.”
47 Scott will continue to honor ALL Saint House Island Bistro and Rum Bar gift cards.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2014.
Noooo! So sad! Saint House will always have a special place in my heart!
Altho I enjoyed the food & drinks, too often there were hardly any people there – unfortunately, I saw this coming.. – Hope that all of their loyal staff find jobs ASAP!
Bummer. Though we ate there just once in September as we sample our way through the new downtown restaraunt scene, we really looked forward to a return visit. It’s a shame that great food, a great staff and a perfect location weren’t enough to survive.
What a shame. This was my favorite restaurant downtown because of the excellent, quality vegan options and delicious drinks. I took many out-of-towners here. I’m very sad to hear this, but I am glad that 47 Scott will still be around.
That was my favorite place downtown! It was so delicious! But, we did try to go a couple times when it was packed and couldn’t get in without a reservation. Also, I think we tried to go for lunch and it seems they weren’t open for lunch. So, that made it a little frustrating.
Maybe if the owners and bartenders werent such charicatures of douchebag hipsters (as portrayed in the simpsons) this place wouldve lasted. But frankly it was doomed from the beginning. Plantain chips suck and rum is the worst of all liquors. It was not The theme that didnt catch on here, it was the shitty attitudes of the pretentious male bartenders and the outright irresponsible terrible decision making of the owners. You failed and you suck but thanks for trying.