Following an 18-year stint in Phoenix, Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill will permanently close its doors following Sunday’s big game on Feb. 11. The neighborhood sports bar, which became a staple in the community over time, received word late last year that its lease would not be renewed due to residential development in the area.
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Half Moon Windy City will plan to celebrate its final days in Phoenix with rolled back prices and final farewell parties. Through Feb. 11, Half Moon will savor the memories at amazing prices, offering all guests menu pricing from back in the day. In addition, on Feb. 10, the eatery will host The Last Lunar Party, complete with live music, $3 mystery shots, $4-5 draft and bottled beers and $4 well drinks and house wine. Plus, celebrate the true finale on Feb. 11 while the San Francisco 49ers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the biggest game of the season.
Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill originated in 2006 as Half Moon Sports Grill, with its original location at the Park One Center near Biltmore Fashion Park. Following its sister store, the original Half Moon on Greenway Pkwy., Half Moon was the first sports bar in Arizona with Hi-Def Plasma TVs. Between the tight-knit community and bustling Biltmore area, Half Moon thrived for years in the Park One neighborhood before renewing its lease in 2013. In the renewal, co-owners Don Talbot and Clay Moizo revamped the sports bar to accommodate the influx of new concepts opening in the area and it was then that Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill was born. The concept played on Moizo’s Chicago roots, incorporating family recipes and traditional Chicago favorites including thin crust pizzas and Chicago-style hot dogs.
Soon enough, The Windy City concept became a home away from home for Chicago sports fans, with hundreds of customers showing up weekly to watch the Chicago Bears, Cubs and Blackhawks. The Half Moon team lead the charge in cheering on Chicago sports for big games including the Blackhawks 2015 Stanley Cup win and the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series win following a 108-year wait. To break the infamous “Billy Goat Curse,” Moizo and the team even roasted an entire goat outside of the bar before the first pitch of Game One.
“We will forever remember where we watched Game Seven of the 2016 World Series; it’s a core memory for Chicago sports fans,” said Moizo. “The whole week of festivities was such an exciting time for not only the Windy City staff, but the community surrounding us and we are forever grateful to have been able to serve the neighborhood for 18 years.”
In addition to Chicago fans, the property was also home to the Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida State Seminole alumni groups every Saturday for over 15 years, sharing the joy in seeing countless NCAA wins.
In 2021, the Park One property was sold to a new landlord and in late 2023, the company announced plans to redevelop the center into high-rise apartments. With the advanced notice, Talbot and Moizo have been able to take time to strategize to ensure their employees are taken care of and the community is celebrated. The duo has offered to keep all employees, giving them the option to continue to work at one of the other concepts including Scramble, a breakfast & lunch joint, Half Moon Sports Grill on Greenway or the latest concept, Foley Ranch Boots & BBQ, located in Desert Ridge Marketplace.
“It’s been an incredible 18-year run and we are eternally grateful to all of our fans, vendors and most importantly our family of staff,” said Talbot. “We hope to continue to see the community visit us at our other properties and we hope you enjoyed your experience with us as much as we enjoyed having you.”
