RE ALT Y Discover more about these properties at our all-new website; www.waltdanley.com The premier destination for luxury real estate in Arizona 480.991.2050 The Gents: Raul Siqueiros/Jack Luciano 480.824.1717 Libby Cohen | 602.291.1446 The Gents: Raul Siqueiros/Jack Luciano 480.824.1717 Mark Lindabury | 602.663.1327 Libby Cohen | 602.291.1446 6037 East Calle Del Media Road Scottsdale, Arizona 6543 NORTH 40TH STREET P V, A 7BR | 6.5BA | 7,696 SQ FT $2,300,000 | MLS# 5424055 6900 EAST CAMELBACK ROAD S, A 7 GARAGE SPACE | 8,513 SQ FT $2,950,000 | MLS# 5234350 4BR | 3.5BA | 3,850 SQ FT $1,795,000 | MLS# 5409517 6644 EAST EXETER BOULEVARD S, A 4BR | 6BA | 12,960 SQ FT MLS# 5369402 | $3,000,000 6543 NORTH 40TH STREET P V, A 4BR | 6BA | 4,445 SQ FT $1,495,000 | MLS# 5387869 The Gents: Raul Siqueiros/Jack Luciano PENTHOUSE! 6320 EAST MARIPOSA STREET S, A 6BR | 7.5BA | 9,000 SQ FT MLS# 5429156 | $4,200,000 Walt Danley Realty Libby Cohen | 602.291.1446

Page 29 June 2016 By Amanda Goossen On May 4, the opening of Postino Highland signified more to owners Craig and Kris DeMarco and Lauren and Wyatt Bailey than its position as their sixth Postino winecafé to open in the Valley. This opening came at the moment Upward Projects, the restaurant group which oversees the operations of Postino Winecafé, Federal Pizza, Churn, Windsor, and Joy Ride Taco House, was also preparing to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their original Postino location, in Arcadia. “The 15 year anniversary of Postino Arcadia holds a ton of meaning for all of us,” said Craig DeMarco. “We have such a high level of gratitude to the community. We started with nothing and we had no idea what we were doing. I can’t believe how far we’ve come.” DeMarco admits the distance his restaurant group has traveled can be attributed to surrounding himself with people who have more knowledge and more experience than he does. What began as a place where DeMarco hoped he and his friends could gather to drink wine, evolved into one of the city’s favorite spots to meet up with friends and not only drink wine, but dine. The original Postino opened on 40th Street and Campbell Avenue, almost by accident. “We had no plan. We wanted a place where we could hang out with our friends. Some place with a cool vibe. To this day, that’s what we’re looking for every time we open a new restaurant.” Over the years, DeMarco admits, with experts such as co-owner Lauren Bailey, Chef Chris Newstrom and Beverage Director Brent Karlicek joining the team, the restaurants have been able to evolve and meet their potential. One aspect of the business, which has become something Upward Projects is now know for, is their use of old, architecturally rich buildings as their restaurant locations. Restoring the old 1959 Arcadia post office, building and transforming it into their first winecafe, was the first of many projects which helped bring Phoenix-area structures back to their original glory. “The term, which is now a buzz word, is adaptive reuse,” said DeMarco. “At the time though, we just knew that we walked our dogs by this old post office every night and thought it would be a cool place for a wine bar.” Fifteen years later, that is still how Upward Projects looks at real estate. Five years ago, Lauren and Wyatt drove down Scottsdale Road and called Craig and Kris, who happened to be in the car together. “Lauren told us that she walked into this old building on Scottsdale Road and it was too cool,” said DeMarco. “She said… ‘It would make a great location for a Postino.’” Thus, their latest restaurant, Postino Highland was born. The space, which sits near the Scottsdale Fashion Square, once housed Valley National Bank. Frank Henry, who apprenticed with Frank Lloyd Wright and spent over 40 years as an award-winning Arizona architect, originally designed the space. The restoration projects are never easy. But the Upward Projects team wouldn’t have it any other way. “To some, it might mean uncertainty,” said DeMarco. “But to us, it can be really soulful.” Lauren and Craig, in an attempt to stay true to much of the building’s original design, visited the ASU library’s archives to study Henry’s architectural history. Images of original light fixtures and artwork from the bank were copied and used to recreate objects throughout the restaurant The furniture is all vintage 1960s and purchased from Modern Manor, one of the Valley’s most popular vintage furniture shops. As DeMarco walks through his restaurant – pointing to the original pieces of the building and explaining how they redesigned important aspects – he talks quickly, moves fast and beams with pride. His goal to build a place for his friends to gather, may have started fifteen years ago, but his passion hasn’t waivered one bit. “We do it because we love it,” he said, as he points to a wall, which he explains is his favorite spot of the new space. “People make a choice to come dine with us and it’s our job to make sure they enjoy how they experience it. We never take that for granted.” Postino celebrates 15 years with a new Scottsdale location Craig DeMarco, one of the owners of Postino, gave us a tour of his favorite parts of Postino Highland, including the handwritten neon and vintage matchbook wall. PLACES WE LOVE PHOTOS BY CARLY G. MEDIA