Tempe’s Mill Avenue was once defined by its mom-and-pop shops, then evolved into a hot spot for bar hoppers. Its latest transformation divides those with ties to the iconic downtown.
City leaders and business owners are spearheading the change, one that some say rings in a more mature sophistication, but critics call an inauthentic copy of Old Town Scottsdale.
The debate centers on how Tempe sees itself and in defining what it wants to be. It’s a classic tale of urban renewal. Many longtime residents favor the gritty realness of Mill Avenue’s yesteryear, but new arrivals favor a wider range of experiences and something more cosmopolitan…