Marquesa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort announced today that it's closing its doors. Marquesa is the only 5-star restaurant in Scottsdale, and is 1 of only 4 in all of Arizona.
The restaurant's official reason for closing is that they need to shift their offerings to cater to a younger crowd.
Of course, this is just a politically correct way of saying, "Scottsdale can't afford us anymore." All the money is gone and all that's left are the low-lifes who frequent the Pink Taco and such.
Now that the free housing ATM bonanza is over, and all those idiots have to start paying back the massive housing debt they've incurred over the past few years, disposable income in Scottsdale has all but disappeared and high-end establishments are really suffering.
Heck, it's not even the high-end places that are suffering. Myself and just about everyone else I know have noticed a mysterious disappearance of crowds in Scottsdale over the past year, even during the peak winter tourist months.
I've used the quote "This is the beginning of the end of Scottsdale" in previous posts, but we're obviously past the beginning now. The housing and credit implosion of Scottsdale is just beginning.
This is going to end badly, people.
AMNESTY BABY. they are using jon kyl.... long enuff until they can elect La Raza members as our senators.
don't these guys see it....or do they want that??
I meant to eat at the princess joint for years.. never did... oops soorry.
maybe next time. I've been to T-Cooks and City Hall a bunch and have enjoyed it... and will go to Cowboy Caio this weekend... but to be honest...joints like these are on every block in Manhattan.
know an ex teacher from Tempe... had 25 students. 1 white, 4 black, 20 mexican. The black kids spoke the best english. The mexican kids...well 8 of 20 had parents that spoke NO english. The white kid...his dad was in jail for meth.
the teacher did not know and could not ask the 'immigration status' no no no ... you can't do that in liberalwonderland.
Great state. great. nice future here in AZ and the USA for that matter.
Posted by: angryman | May 18, 2007 at 04:11 PM
Drinkwater's City Hall is great - we always chose that over Mastro's or Ocean Club. Why? The food is the same and City Hall isn't full of the same fake loud fat obnoxious drunken midlife-crisis Tommy Bahama wearing worthless pieces of shit that pack the other two locations. The crowd is polite and classy, probably because it's mostly Phoenician and Royal Palms guests who are sent there by the concierge instead of low-life Scottsdale locals.
You're right about great high-end joints being on every block in Manhattan and other places with real money; check this out:
We always had to reserve at least a week in advance or more to go to Ocean Club or Mastro's in Shittsdale. And we didn't enjoy those places because they were VERY loud and full of jackasses. Here in OC though you can just show up at either of those places (Mastro's in Costa Mesa or Ocean Club in Newport Beach) and usually get a table without a wait.
Why? Becuase they're nothing special here. High-end restaurants are a dime a dozen. We have 40+ 5-star joints in the area. Oh yeah and you go to Mastro's here and it's classy and quiet and people are dressed like human beings, not like some public spectacle from a Tommy Bahama fashion show.
Mastro's in Fakesdale is always busy just because there's nothing else like it in AZ. In a real city with real people that's not the case.
Posted by: Frank Rumbauskas | May 18, 2007 at 04:18 PM
my point also.... the waits.. . walk into any 5 star place in nyc and they will squeek you in... maybe call in at 2pm for a 7pm reservation.
but my fav part of AZ... the asshole freaks that show up and squatt at the movies at 5pm for a 6:20pm show.
on the east coast, including NYC... you can show up opening night to a big film 15min before the, and get a ticket and a decent seat...
in NYC.. the movie starts at 6:20 when they say it. Not 6:47 like AZ.
these people are freaks. get me out of here.. 12days til salvation.
Posted by: angryman | May 18, 2007 at 04:24 PM
I may be repeating old news, but I read yesterday that Mastro's was sold and the rest of the Mastro's restaurant group is currently for sale. When a big player in Scottsdale's restaurant scene wants to cash out, that's a certainly not a good indicator of a strong future for the city.
Posted by: Keith | May 19, 2007 at 08:59 AM
Yep, that's correct. Apparently, Mike Mastro is a smart guy and is selling off before the AZ economy is completely wiped out.
Posted by: Frank Rumbauskas | May 19, 2007 at 02:08 PM
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A "SCOTTSDALE MERCEDES" AND A "CACTUS" ??? THE PRICKS ARE ONTHE OUTSIDE OF THE CACTUS !!!
Posted by: David Applegate | June 01, 2007 at 05:19 AM
It's a real shame about Mastros. I think it was a genuinely good steak house, douche-bags aside. The "Tommy Bahama" comments are hilarious! Thanks for making me laugh. I thought I disliked Scottsdale, but you take the cake!
Posted by: Karen George | August 13, 2007 at 07:21 PM