The Craft & Commerce Crew Plan to Open New Concept in Little Italy

July 12, 2013

From CH Projects, the culinary collective formerly known as Consortium Holdings, a new concept is underway as they've recently taken over a 4,500 square foot space in the heart of downtown’s oldest continuous neighborhood, Little Italy.  The new venue, located at 1654 India Street, is slated to be one of the group’s most ambitious concepts yet. The project details are currently under wraps, but the build out is in the early stages of construction with a projected opening date in early 2014.  The building itself was previously occupied by the former wrought-iron gate-makers, Ironside.  Having occupied the space for decades, the 1920s-era structure is the last industrial space in the immediate area to be redeveloped.

Arzalun Tafazoli

Led by co-owners Arsalun Tafazoli and Nathan Stanton, CH is noted for kick starting the burgeoning cultural progression now taking place in Little Italy with the launch of Craft & Commerce in 2009, which quickly rose to the top as one of the nation’s premier cocktail destinations. Two years later they opened doors at UnderBelly, paying homage to the ramen gods of Tokyo.  With seven existing concepts in their repertoire (Neighborhood, Noble Experiment, El Dorado, Polite Provisions, Soda & Swine, Craft & Commerce and UnderBelly), CH continues in a steady growth of artfully constructing one new venture each year, always keeping their intrinsic core values at the forefront – fostering charisma, thoughtful dialogue, and the resurgence of real human interaction.

“We’ve always loved Little Italy; we like to focus on neighborhoods where we have a real opportunity to make an impact,” says CH co-owner Arsalun Tafazoli. “Alongside the many great operators that are now occupying the area, it's quickly transforming into an amazing culinary hub. We hope to continue to foster a sense of community and culture in Little Italy with this new venture, and attract others to do the same.”