The Moeur House. Photo Credit: Salt River Stories
We love a good reinvention of an old space. For too long, our region has biased towards tearing down and rebuilding, and we have lost too much of our precious little history we had remaining as a result. So when innovators decide to preserve a piece of history and remake it into something beautiful and new, we stand up and take notice.
When acclaimed Phoenix restaurateurs Cat Bunnag and Dan Robinson announced their 2026 plans to transform Tempe’s Gov. Benjamin B. Moeur House and Hatton Hall into dining destinations, they highlighted one of urban development’s most powerful tools: adaptive reuse of historic spaces.
The practice of reimagining historical buildings for contemporary purposes creates magic that new construction simply cannot replicate. These structures carry stories in their walls – the Moeur House sheltered Arizona’s governor and the town’s only doctor from 1896 to 1937, while Hatton Hall honors Patricia A. Hatton, a pioneering woman in Tempe politics. When thoughtfully repurposed, these spaces become bridges between past and present.
“The Moeur House is such a magical setting,” Bunnag and Robinson noted, capturing exactly why historic preservation matters. These buildings offer architectural character, craftsmanship, and authenticity that modern construction struggles to achieve. They anchor communities in their heritage while serving evolving needs.
Tempe Historic Preservation Officer Zachary Lechner emphasized this dual purpose: “This restaurant is an opportunity to invite people into Tempe’s history.” Rather than relegating historic buildings to museum status, adaptive reuse keeps them alive and relevant.
The beloved House of Tricks previously demonstrated this concept’s success in the same location, creating the “warm, authentic experience” that Mayor Corey Woods hopes to see return. When historic spaces become gathering places again, they fulfill their highest purpose – serving the community while preserving its legacy.
Adaptive reuse proves that honoring the past and embracing the future aren’t mutually exclusive goals. And we’re here for it.