Staff Reports | Business & Commerce
POV Foods, the restaurant group behind Old Town Scottsdale’s Rusty Spur Saloon, has purchased the Swizzle Inn, the unpretentious midtown Phoenix dive at 5835 N. 16th St.
The bar officially changed hands May 19, but longtime patrons can rest assured: the lights will stay dim, the tinsel-wrapped Christmas strands will stay up, and the drinks will keep flowing, according to a press release.
“The Swizzle Inn is the neighborhood’s living room,” said Bill Toole, owner of POV Foods. “It’s a place people come to unwind, share a story, shoot some pool. We’re not here to change that, we’re here to honor it and keep the doors open for the next generation of regulars.”
Founded in 2014, POV Foods has built a reputation for maintaining and revitalizing Arizona’s most loved local haunts. Known for their stewardship of the Rusty Spur Saloon, a historic watering hole that has been slinging drinks since 1951, POV brings the same commitment to community, culture and continuity to the Swizzle Inn, representative of the brand tell the Digital Free Press.
A dive with decades of stories
Opened in 1996 by longtime proprietor Beth Johnson, the Swizzle Inn quickly became a beloved neighborhood dive bar.
Tucked into the back corner of a central Phoenix strip mall, it is known for its windowless hideaway, circular bartop and nautical touches, including a porthole on the front door and a sign out front that says “No Starbucks Parking.”
Strings of multicolored holiday lights glow year-round, casting a warm glow over dartboards, a pool table and, for the brave, the neon-blue “Shark Fart” shot that once earned the Swizz a mention in the Phoenix New Times. Every day, there’s a $2 brown bag mystery shot waiting behind the bar.
POV’s vision is grounded in respect for that legacy. Familiar faces will still be pouring drinks, Wednesday trivia will continue at 7 p.m., daily specials will still be dubbed the “catch of the day” and the laid-back charm will remain untouched.
“We’re not some big corporation coming in to rebrand or remodel,” said Annie Gaillard, general manager of the Swizzle Inn and POV’s beverage director. “We’re local folks who believe in the power of community, and we plan to carry on the Swizz’s tradition of being a spot where everyone feels welcome.”
In purchasing the Swizzle Inn, POV adds to the growing list of restaurants across Arizona that each carry a piece of local history. Red, White & Brew in Mesa will celebrate 24 years next year. Lakeside Bar & Grill in Peoria has been serving its neighborhood for 17 years.
Both 32 Shea in Phoenix and Bill’s Grill in Prescott have been community fixtures for more than a decade.
“We’re not a group of investors looking for a quick flip,” Ms. Toole said. “This is our livelihood, our passion, and when we commit to a place, it’s for the long haul. The Swizzle Inn felt like the right fit because it already has history and heart, and we want to help carry that forward.”
