Fire — An Arizona Bistro, an upscale eatery that opened less than six months ago in Marana, closed July 1 and plans a major revamping before it reopens in October.
Jim Bradley, a managing partner at Fire, 12130 N. Dove Mountain Blvd., said it didn't make sense to keep losing money just to stay open during the summer doldrums.
"At least until this area gets built up a bit more, this may be something we'll be doing every year, closing for July, August and September," he said Wednesday. "Our friends in the restaurant business here say that September is the worst month of all."
When Fire reopens Oct. 1, it will be a more family-style restaurant, he said, with more pastas and salads on the menu and lower prices on both food and alcohol.
"Increased food costs and the lack of people going out to eat has taken a hit on everybody," Bradley said.
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Fire's opening in February coincided with the Match Play golf championship at the nearby Dove Mountain resort. Business was booming at first but declined sharply each month thereafter, Bradley said.
The original chef, Jason Jonilonis, left Fire several weeks after it opened.
— M. Scot Skinner
