Walk down 7th Street in Tempe today and things feel... different. It’s hard to put a finger on if you didn’t grow up here, but for anyone who spent a Tuesday night nursing a glass of Chardonnay under a canopy of trees near ASU, the absence is palpable. We’re talking about House of Tricks. It wasn't just a restaurant. It was basically the soul of downtown Tempe for over thirty years before the owners, Robert and Shelly Trick, decided to retire in 2022.
People still search for it. They still hope it’s just "closed for renovations" or maybe relocated to a quieter corner of the Valley. But the reality is a bit more nuanced.
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The House of Tricks Tempe Legacy: More Than Just Two Turn-of-the-Century Cottages
You have to understand the layout to get why people were obsessed. It wasn't a sterile, modern box with floor-to-ceiling glass and neon signs. Instead, it was two historic houses—one built in 1903 and the other in 1912—connected by one of the most incredible patios in the Southwest.
The gardens were lush. Like, "how is this the desert?" lush.
When Robert and Shelly opened the doors in 1987, Tempe was a different world. Mill Avenue wasn't a gauntlet of corporate chains yet. It was gritty. It had character. House of Tricks provided this weirdly perfect middle ground where a college professor could argue about physics next to a couple on their first date, while a high-powered lawyer sat at the outdoor bar closing a deal.
Why the food actually mattered (and wasn't just "fine dining")
A lot of places with "atmosphere" slack on the kitchen. Tricks didn't. They leaned heavily into what we now call "New American" cuisine, but back then, it was just really good, inventive food. They changed the menu seasonally. You might find a duck breast with a cherry reduction one month and a perfectly seared scallop with parsnip puree the next.
The wine list was legendary too. They didn't just stock the big names you see in every grocery store aisle. They found small producers. They cared about the pairing. Honestly, it was one of the few places in the East Valley where you could trust the sommelier to bring you something you’d never heard of and have it absolutely blow your mind.
What happened to House of Tricks?
It wasn't a scandal. It wasn't a bankruptcy. It wasn't even the pandemic, though that certainly didn't make things easier for anyone in the hospitality industry.
In 2021, the announcement dropped: the Tricks were retiring.
After 35 years, they wanted to go out on their own terms. It’s a rare thing in the restaurant business. Usually, a place fades away or burns out. House of Tricks stayed busy until the very last service in June 2022. People were literally flying in from out of state just to have one last meal on that patio. It was an era ending in real-time.
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The Real Estate Reality
The land where the restaurant sat is prime. We're talking heart-of-Tempe, stones-throw-from-the-lake prime. While fans hoped someone would buy the brand and keep it going, the transition of such a personal, owner-operated spot is tricky. Pun intended. The houses themselves are protected by historic designations, but the vibe of a restaurant is much harder to preserve than the bricks and mortar.
Why it still ranks as a top search for Tempe dining
Even though the kitchen is dark, House of Tricks Tempe remains a benchmark. When people look for "best patio in Tempe" or "romantic restaurants near ASU," Tricks still shows up in blogs, old Yelp lists, and Reddit threads because nothing has quite filled that specific niche.
Modern Tempe is leaning hard into high-density development. You see the cranes. You see the "luxury" apartments going up every week. House of Tricks represented a slower, more intentional version of the city. It was a place where you could actually hear the person across the table from you.
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- The Atmosphere: It felt like a secret garden hidden in a concrete jungle.
- The Service: Staff stayed there for years. Decades, in some cases. That kind of institutional knowledge is gone in the modern "turn and burn" staffing model.
- The Cultural Impact: It hosted thousands of weddings, graduations, and "will you marry me" moments.
Moving forward: Where to go now?
If you're looking for that House of Tricks vibe, you're going to have to hunt for it. You won't find it in a single spot, but you can piece it together.
For the historic house feel, people usually head over to The Vig Fillmore in Phoenix or Cibo. In Tempe specifically? Postino Annex has a decent patio, but it’s definitely more "corporate cool" than "eclectic garden." If you want that high-end, chef-driven menu, Kai or Sel are great, though they lack that specific 1900s cottage charm.
The loss of House of Tricks serves as a reminder that independent, family-run fine dining is a fragile thing. It requires a level of obsession and physical presence that most modern investors aren't willing to put in.
Actionable insights for the displaced regular
If you miss the specific flavors of House of Tricks, your best bet is to follow the alumni. Many of the chefs and managers who cycled through that kitchen are still active in the Arizona food scene.
- Check out the local "Heritage" lists: Look for restaurants located in historic districts like Roosevelt Row or Old Town Scottsdale that prioritize patio culture.
- Support the "Tricks" philosophy: Look for owner-operated spots where the menu changes four times a year. Avoid the big hospitality groups if you want that personal touch.
- Visit the site: You can still walk by the cottages on 7th Street. They stand as a testament to what Tempe used to be—and a reminder that even in a city of glass and steel, there’s still room for a little bit of history.
The legacy of House of Tricks isn't just about the food. It's about the fact that for three decades, a small family-run business held its ground against the tide of modernization and gave a city a place to breathe. While the doors are closed, the standard they set for Arizona hospitality remains the bar that every new opening is quietly measured against. If you're looking for a meal today, seek out the places that prioritize the "experience" of sitting under a tree over the "efficiency" of a QR code menu. That's the only way to truly honor what the Tricks built.