Despite some inaccuracies that always occur when a long interview is reconstructed and condensed for print, we really thought this was a great story:

“The owners of one of Tempe’s oldest businesses, Monti’s La Casa Vieja Steakhouse, have struck a deal with a local developer to sell the restaurant’s 2.5-acre site at the corner of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway.

Steak lovers can rest easy: The restaurant will continue to operate.”

The Full Monti…

As the center of gravity moves to the Tempe Town Lake, we are preparing for the future by designing a knockout patio for the North side of the building. Celebrated local architect Michael Wilson Kelly is developing a two-story bar patio that will reflect design cues, such as river rock, from the gateway to Tempe Beach Park across the street. This design will be sensitive to the history and tradition of the Hayden House/Casa Vieja as the Valley’s oldest continuously occupied structure and place of ongoing hospitality since 1871.

Here are some very preliminary drawings.

http://www.mwkarch.com

March 22, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

You may hearing rumors or read about Monti’s La Casa Vieja and changes to the property.

First, Monti’s restaurant will be here for the foreseeable future and Michael and Eddie will continue to be the operators. We are not going anywhere! We have entered into an agreement that will allow for the surrounding property to be developed and at one point, a few years down the road, we will need to have a pause in our operations in order to complete needed renovations and updates to the new Monti’s operation.

We are excited that the deal we have made will allow for the historic Hayden House to be preserved for generations to come, and many of the historic pictures and other features that make the “Casa Vieja” unique will be saved. Our history and tradition will stay alive.

It is business as usual, and we ask that you share this message with anyone who asks you about what is happening at Monti’s. All of our banquet and catering commitments are secure and will not be changed.

We will also soon be adding a catering commissary and offices at a new commercial/warehouse location in Tempe.

Of course we will keep you updated as Monti’s enters into the exciting future of downtown Tempe. We and our families will continue to play an active role in the Tempe Community, our home.

Michael and Christen Monti

Eddie and Stacey Goitia

Monti’s La Casa Vieja Restaurant To Remain Open For Foreseeable Future

Monti’s surrounding property to be developed

TEMPE, ARIZONA. MARCH 23, 2007. Despite months of numerous offers for their property at Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue, the owners of Monti’s La Casa Vieja on Mill Avenue have agreed to sell their property to a developer that will not impact restaurant operations for the future. When redevelopment does take place, the agreement calls for the historic “Hayden House,” which comprises much of Monti’s, to be preserved and for the restaurant to return to the site after redevelopment is completed.

“After so many have knocked on our door, we finally found the right fit. It was critical to us that a new property owner allow us to remain here for the time being, preserve our historic structure, and ultimately bring Monti’s back better than ever,” owner Michael Monti said. Monti also mentioned the restaurant’s catering service would continue to expand and grow to fit growing demands during the future transition.

“As someone whose family has been and always will be the chief cheerleaders for our amazing community, I am very glad that we held out for such a positive result like this. First the Hayden Flour Mill and now the Hayden House at Monti’s. It sure would be nice to see other Valley cities show the creativity and foresight Tempe’s public and private sector have,” Monti said.

Monti said the new property owner and future developer, 3W Companies, would plan and ultimately build around the historic structure on the 2.5 acre site.

“This is the best of both worlds for Tempe as well as Monti’s. In the meantime, we want everyone to know Monti’s is conducting business as usual for the next few years. The experience and food is as good as ever,” he said.

Jason Rose

Rose & Allyn Public Relations

Work: 480.423.1414

Mobile: 602.791.4488

jrose@roseandallynpr.com