Audio By Carbonatix
Not too many places have weathered 80 years in the Valley. The Orpheum Theatre. The Hayden Flour Mill in downtown Tempe. And Tom’s Restaurant & Tavern, the ubiquitous downtown hangout that was once a pool hall and the city morgue. In celebration of the joint’s 80th birthday, owner Michael Ratner is offering Depression Specials through Friday, December 11.
- Score a cup of Tom’s original chili for just 49 cents — the price you would’ve paid back in 1929.
- Head by at 3 p.m. daily for a free slice of Tom’s “birthday” cake and complimentary coffee or soft drink.
If you haven’t been to Tom’s, it really is a slice of Arizona history. The walls are covered with fun memorabilia from the restaurant’s pool hall days, and there’s even a Wall of Fame with pics of celebs who have been in the Tavern, from late actor George Burns to Sheriff Joe.
According to Ratner, a pic of former Arizona governor Fyfe Symington hanging on that wall was stolen once. Ratner received a “ransom note,” but the picture mysteriously reappeared shortly afterwards.
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Ahh…the glory days of Phoenix.
