Roosevelt opens with food, music, film and events in Downtown Phoenix

Roosevelt, a new hybrid hospitality venue in Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row Arts District, is celebrating its grand opening through October and November. The former FilmBar space combines a restaurant, listening lounge and performance venue with live music, film screenings, art and private-event bookings.

Why it matters: - Roosevelt adds a new all-in-one cultural venue to Downtown Phoenix, blending dining, listening, film and live events in one space. - The project is designed to pull in repeat visits by changing programming across music, art, food and community events. - The venue also gives Phoenix artists, students and creative organizations another platform in Roosevelt Row.

What happened: - Roosevelt is hosting a grand opening throughout October and November in Downtown Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row Arts District. - The venue is an audio-forward listening lounge, restaurant, performance space and event venue. - The project is a joint venture from the founders of Phoenix-based Relentless Beats, restaurant and event space Ocotillo, and local music and nightlife veterans. - The space opened in the former arthouse cinema and lounge FilmBar at 815 N. 2nd Street.

The details: - The partners include Relentless Beats founder and CEO Thomas Turner, Relentless Beats VP Stephen Kushnir, Ocotillo chef-owner Walter Sterling and DJ Michael Hooker. - LAB Design Collaborative handled the 4,000-square-foot renovation and décor. - Phoenix artist Tony Obr created the site-specific installation Werewolf Life Coach (Roosevelt Redux). - The venue features Arizona’s only Funktion-One sound system in a hospitality setting. - Sound Investment custom-designed the system and Hypercube Audio installed it. - Roosevelt also uses state-of-the-art lighting designed by SJ Lighting founder Stephen Lieberman. - Upcoming events include Alisha + Anoushka B2B Michael Hooker on October 29, Deadly Disco Ball featuring Pete Salaz + Senbad + DJ Court on October 30, and the Halloween Haunted House Party featuring Michael Hooker + Jimii + Nikita Rising on October 31. - The calendar also includes Fergie on November 11, Julian Fijma on November 20 and Radio Slave on December 6. - Sound Kitchen is Roosevelt’s recurring Thursday hi-fidelity listening experience with curated vinyl, food and cocktails. - Roosevelt is open to buyouts, special occasions and parties of up to 250 people, including Mondays when the venue is normally closed. - The venue is available for demos, art exhibits, listening sessions, short-film screenings, shows, dinners, private parties and product launches. - Roosevelt’s hours are Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. - Daily happy hour runs from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and reservations are available on OpenTable. - Social links provided by the venue include Instagram and TikTok.

Between the lines: - Roosevelt is positioning itself as more than a restaurant or music club. - The venue’s mix of hospitality, sound engineering and arts programming signals a push to make the room as much about the experience as the lineup. - The partnership with Cinehaze Film Club keeps the former cinema identity alive while repurposing the space for a broader nightlife audience. - The planned connection with Arizona State University’s ASUPROX conference suggests a longer-term focus on emerging talent and industry networking.

What's next: - Roosevelt’s film programming continues with a screening of The Lost Boys on October 27. - A happy hour with local businesses and organizations, in partnership with Local First Arizona, is set for October 27. - A welcome reception with Valley of the Sun Concierge Group is scheduled for November 24. - Roosevelt plans to keep building programming with ASUPROX and is inviting regional creatives to pitch events and collaborations.

The bottom line: - Roosevelt is trying to make Downtown Phoenix’s next destination a flexible hub for dining, performance and community culture, not just a nightlife spot.