For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACTS: Samantha Santos, Communications and PR Manager 602.257.2117 | samantha.santos@phxart.org
Monica X Castillo, Operating Partner 520.400.9058 |monica@conceptuallysocial.com
Led by Operating Partner Monica X Castillo, the downtown restaurant will feature new American cuisine in a fresh, modern atmosphere inspired by Museum’s mid-century modern history
PHOENIX (January 28, 2025) – Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) and Conceptually Social (CS) announce today that they will open their new restaurant concept—Alden—in Spring 2025, with Operating Partner Monica X Castillo at the helm. Named for famed architect Alden B. Dow, who designed the original Phoenix Art Museum building at Central Avenue and McDowell Road, Alden restaurant will offer new American cuisine that brings in flavors found throughout the Valley’s diverse community. Patrons will be able to enjoy a sit-down experience in the newly renovated dining area conceptualized and created by Shepley Bulfinch, MRT Design, and DL Norton General Contracting. The restaurant will also offer grab-and-go items that can be enjoyed outside in the Museum’s Dorrance Sculpture Garden. Beginning in February 2025, Alden will launch a series of salon-style dining experiences to offer a preview of what to expect when the restaurant opens to the public in the spring.
“We are very excited to unveil the plans for Alden at Phoenix Art Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “Through this collaboration with Conceptually Social, we wanted to create an experience that honors the Museum’s mid-century history while providing our community with a new dining experience featuring fresh, thoughtful design and an innovative food and beverage program. Created by the incredible Monica X Castillo, Alden’s menu will reflect the global influences and cultures that have shaped Phoenix. We extend our gratitude to the Conceptually Social team for their partnership, as well as the talented teams at Shepley Bulfinch, MRT Design, and DL Norton General Contracting that are working tirelessly to bring the Alden vision to life.”
The forthcoming restaurant located at PhxArt is named for Alden B. Dow F.A.I.A., who served as architect for the original museum building that opened to the public in 1959. Dow graduated from the Beaux Arts Architectural Program at Columbia University in New York City and went on to join Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Fellowship in the spring of 1933. He was one of the first fellows to leave Taliesin and start his own firm, becoming a leader and expert in organic architecture. Throughout his 50-year career, Dow designed more than 600 projects and constructed more than 130 structures in his hometown of Midland, Michigan.
The new restaurant will not only refresh the dining experience but also honor the architect’s legacy by incorporating the building’s distinctive design elements. Intimate entries, an open-concept kitchen, and an expansive, inviting dining room will take full advantage of the Museum’s striking horizontal lines and the interplay of natural light. The design also celebrates Dow’s signature use of bold, organic shapes, with spaces that encourage both reflection and social interaction.
Beginning in Spring 2025, Alden at PhxArt will be open for lunch and dinner. Sample menu items include:
- Salmon Crudo (aji, amarillo-yuzu chile, lychee, avocado crema)
- Zesty Sesame (rice noodles, mango, cilantro, serrano, red cabbage, sesame dressing)
- Short Ribs (ancho chili & red wine braised beef, blue corn polenta, roasted chayote squash)
Additional menu selections can be viewed here. Alden will also offer grab-and-go-pastries and coffee service in the morning. Hours of operation will be:
- Monday and Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday and Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm
- Sunday: 10 am – 8 pm
Alden’s food and beverage program has been created and will be overseen by Monica Castillo. Over her career, Castillo has worked her way up the ranks of high-end kitchens, beginning as a pastry chef and rising through all areas of the “back of house.” After more than eight years at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, she moved to Phoenix to join the culinary team that opened La Grande Orange Pizzeria and Chelsea’s Kitchen, eventually expanding her experience into general management. Over her career, Castillo has helped open concepts for Parlor Pizzeria, Upward Projects, Conceptually Social, and, most recently, Happiness Plaza Concepts in Wichita, Kansas. In addition to her experience as a chef and restaurateur, Castillo is a ceramic artist, who began her practice as part of her journey to heal from a 2015 breast cancer diagnosis.
“Food, art, storytelling—all of these things make up who I am and how I support my community,” said Castillo. “I am extremely excited to be working on the food and beverage program for Alden and am in awe of this opportunity. My hopes are to creatively elevate the restaurant so the community can expect the same level of excellence and service that they enjoy from their experiences at Phoenix Art Museum.”
Prior to Alden’s grand opening in Spring 2025, Castillo will host a series of four intimate, salon-style dining experiences in February and March 2025. Set in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden at Phoenix Art Museum, the preview dining experiences will feature a taste of the special dining events that visitors can expect from the restaurant throughout the year, including Alden’s unique approach to creating experiences that support arts and cultural engagement.
Themes for these preview experiences will include:
- A family-style meal with an Arizona-based artist, featuring an opportunity to connect with a local creative over delicious food accompanied by wine and beer pairings by ARTenders (February 2025; invitation only)
- A ‘sparkling’ lunch, featuring a champagne tasting and light lunch (February 2025; invitation only)
- A Japanese high tea, featuring tea service provided by the Japanese Friendship Garden and Japanese-style bites and sweets (March 2025; invitation only)
- A storytelling evening, featuring fine dining tastings and a storytelling event presenting Valley chefs who share the ups and downs of opening and running restaurants (March 2025; invitation only).
Additionally, Alden will offer curated dining experiences throughout the year inspired by exhibitions on view at the Museum. More information on these bespoke dining opportunities, including the salon-style dinners, will be shared as available.
To learn more about Alden and the PhxArt and Conceptually Social partnership, contact the Museum’s Communications office at samantha.santos@phxart.org.
For high-resolution photography, click here.
About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 350,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design.
The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.
About Conceptually Social Conceptually Social is a Phoenix-based, minority-owned food and beverage solutions company. The group began offering catering services in 2015. The company currently operates three concepts: Conceptually Social Catering, Silo Tempe in Hayden Ferry Lakeside, and Kaizen Sushi inside State Farm Stadium. The company is dedicated to serving uncommonly delicious cuisine while cultivating meaningful relationships within the community and investing in Arizona. For more information about Conceptually Social, visit cscateringaz.com.
About Alden Restaurant
Named for the famed architect of Phoenix Art Museum, Alden B. Dow, Alden is the upcoming newly renovated 3,862-square-foot restaurant at Phoenix Art Museum. Open five days a week for lunch, dinner, and grab-and-go service, Alden @ PhxArt is a unique culinary destination, set alongside the Museum’s stunning Dorrance Sculpture Garden and offering new American cuisine with flavors found throughout our diverse community. With a broad selection of nourishing and sumptuous meals made from seasonal ingredients, Alden has something to satisfy every craving. For more information, visit aldenphx.com.
About Alden B. Dow, F.A.I.A
Alden Ball Dow was born in Midland, Michigan, on April 10, 1904. Greatly influenced by his parents’ appreciation for nature, cultures, and design, Dow desired to become an architect and enrolled in the Beaux Arts Architectural Program at Columbia University in New York City, graduating in 1931. While still a student at Columbia, Dow designed the Midland Country Club and is noted as Associate designer since he was not yet registered. Before opening his own architectural firm, Dow apprenticed at Frantz and Spence, an architectural firm in Saginaw, Michigan, where he designed his first residential structure, the Towsley Residence in Ann Arbor, Michigan, introducing modern design to that city.
Dow admired Frank Lloyd Wright’s style of organic architecture for many years. He reinforced his own philosophy of organic design when he and his wife, Vada Bennett Dow, joined Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin Fellowship in the spring of 1933, spending six months with Wright. Dow was one of the first fellows to leave Taliesin and design on his own, developing a design philosophy focused on “Honesty, Humility and Enthusiasm,” the cornerstone of his life’s work. After returning from Taliesin in the fall of 1933, Mr. Dow began his own architectural firm, Alden B. Dow, Architect. He designed the footprint for his architectural studio and residence, and in 1934, construction of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio began. The four sections of the building were built over time and completed in 1941 and, like 12 other homes in the 1930s, was dominated by Alden Dow’s “unit block” design.
Throughout his 50-year career, Dow designed more than 600 projects and constructed more than 130 structures for Midland, Michigan, 63 of which are residences. He also designed many religious, educational, civic and commercial buildings for Midland and throughout Michigan. He was a registered architect in 13 states, including Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Oklahoma, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, New York, and Arizona. He received many honorary awards from colleges and universities for his architectural leadership, including a fellowship in the American Institute of Architecture in 1957 and the title of Architect Laureate of The State of Michigan in 1983. The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989 and offers daily tours and educational programming. Dow’s work inspired numerous architects to design structures in Midland, featuring more than 400 mid-century modern structures that were built between 1930-1970. Dow passed away on August 20, 1983.
About Shepley Bullfinch
Shepley Bulfinch is a women-led, national architecture and design firm. Founded in 1874, the firm has a notable legacy of challenging convention, pioneering visionary design ideas, and collaborating with clients who seek to drive measurable change. The firm’s architects and designers are regarded for their expertise in tackling complex projects, especially in education, healthcare, and urban development. Learn more about the firm at shepleybulfinch.com.
About MRT Design
MRT Design is a dynamic Phoenix-based architecture and design firm specializing in innovation-focused spaces. With a commitment to sustainable practices and thoughtful design, we create environments that inspire and elevate experiences. Dedicated to fostering strong client relationships by actively listening and combining creativity with technical expertise to deliver tailored solutions that meet each client’s unique needs. From conceptual design to project completion, they strive to shape spaces that resonate with purpose and style. For more information, visit mrtdesignllc.com.
About DL Norton Contracting
DL Norton General Contracting, Inc. was founded in 1961 and has been a trusted provider of preconstruction, contracting, construction management, and design-build services across both private and public sectors. With a strong track record of successful projects throughout the Valley, we take pride in our contributions to the community. Notable projects include the development of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the renovation of ASU’s College of Public Policy & Community Solutions, the Phoenix Theatre Expansion, new Shade Structures at the Downtown Farmer’s Market, upgrades to Phoenix Art Museum, and the Sanitary Sewer Replacement at Phoenix City Hall, along with numerous other impactful projects across Arizona.
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