This week the new owners of Broadway Village - Tucson’s oldest shopping center - are planning to start work to restore it to its former glory. But the future doesn’t include Elle Wine Country Restaurant.

An investment partnership that includes Craig Finfrock and brother Randy Finfrock acquired the storied 37,000 square-foot center on the southwest corner of East Broadway and Country Club Road for $5 million in January from the Murphey Family Trust, who had kept it in their family since it was built.

Print this story Email this story Post a Comment Commercial Retail Advisors plans to have a new restaurant in elle’s space by January.Joe Pangburn photo ADVERTISEMENT

Craig Finfrock, a principal with Commercial Retail Advisors, said his group is looking for a new restaurant for the space now occupied by Elle and expects to have one by January.

"We haven’t finalized anything yet so it is still premature," he said. "But, we are in the process of bringing a new restaurant into the center. We’re looking for a restaurant that will be successful in there that will have a big following with perhaps a big bar and some live music."

Jeff Fuld, owner and chef of Elle, said he didn’t know what his plans would be. Elle opened in 1998 and Fuld bought it in 2005. Previous to owning Elle, Fuld had owned Daniel’s, a restaurant started by Daniel Scordato that closed in 2002.

A restaurant has occupied the Elle space, 3048 E. Broadway, in Broadway Village for 22 years. Among other restaurants previously occupying the space was an Italian- themed restaurant owned by University of Arizona basketball coach Lute Olson.

Finfrock said plans are also being made for a specialty gourmet market in Broadway Village. He said it would be similar to La Grande Orange Grocery in Scottsdale, which specializes in regionally-grown products and offers prepared meals. Most likely, Finfrock said, the market would come after a new restaurant.

"We believe that those two elements will bring this project back to life," Finfrock said.

There are likely to be other changes in tenants but Finfrock said nothing’s definite yet.

The remodeling of Broadway Village is scheduled to begin by this week.

It will start at the east end of the property, fixing the mortar, repainting, touching up the trim and repairing roofs and air conditioners.

The plan is to come back early next year with new lighting fixtures, a new patio, landscaping areas and fountains. There are also plans for a new building late next year, according to Finfrock.

"We want to completely redo the west side of the property," he said. "But that depends on working with the city and what is going to be approved by them."

For the project, Commercial Retail Advisors hired Michael Franks of Seaver Franks Architecture, 2552 N. Alvernon Way, and Antigua de Mexico to help keep the center true to its roots.

"We’re just trying to restore it to its original luster and style and try and keep it as authentic as we can," he said. "It is going to be cool."

Another touch Finfrock wants to add is a memorial to those who made Broadway Villiage happen in 1939: Developer John W. Murphey and architect Josias Joesler.

"We have some of the original site plans and drawings from the Arizona Historical Society," he said. "There is a little courtyard where we are thinking of setting up a case where we could display some of these and do kind of a tribute to them and to the historical status."

Contact reporter Joe Pangburn at jpangburn@azbiz.com or (520) 295-4259.