Since the sudden closure of Tempe Public Market Cafe on Friday, Jan. 17, rumors have swirled around the future plans for the high-profile restaurant space in south Tempe.  Now, the building's new tenant is ready to confirm what's coming next: Postino WineCafe. The popular chain of wine bars and restaurants from Phoenix-based Upward Projects will open its second Tempe location in the space later in 2020.

Upward Projects co-founder and CEO Lauren Bailey has been searching for a space in the south Tempe neighborhood to open at Postino for some time, she says. "We have a history of following these neighborhoods, of tracking them, and this is definitely one that's been on our radar for a while," Bailey told The Arizona Republic on Monday. "It really checks a lot of boxes for us."