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Birdcall flocks to Scottsdale with hot chicken

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

Birdcall, a Colorado-based chicken concept, is not a typical fastfood joint.

The restaurant, which opened its first Arizona location in Scottsdale on May 2, puts a focus on hospitality while re-thinking the ordering process through digital screen kiosks and a pick-up counter with cubbies for customers to grab their meals out of.

“Now more than ever, hospitality is more important than ever,” said Peter Newlin, the CEO and co-founder of Birdcall. “Hospitality to us is everything. It’s kindness, curiosity and being treated like family.”

It was the hospitality of Birdcall’s sister restaurant Park Burger – both are owned by the Colorado-based restaurant group the Gastamo Group – where Newlin discovered his definition of hospitality.

“I was biking home one day and stopped at Park Burger and while sitting there I remember experiencing hospitality for the first time,” he said. “The energy was rad; the vibe was killer and I remember that at that point in time I had this realization that hospitality can look a million different ways but it’s all centered around the idea of how to provide joy and peace.”

He applied to work at Park Burger the next day and eventually worked his way from server to manager to partner.

“I fell in love with the design and concept side with my partner be-

Birdcall Scottsdale’s staff pops off the opening of its most southwestern location off Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard. (Special to the Progress) seeBIRDCALL page 24

Press Coffee partners with nonprofits for opening

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

When Lakeview Coffee owner Ori Eisen made the tough decision to sell the space, the next tenant needed to be someone with the intention of building on what he had created in the space.

Because of this, there was only one tenant he saw as his successor: Press Coffee.

Eisen had a friendship with Press Coffee owner Jason Kyle and Kyle had often bantered about owning the space one day.

“We always kid about it becoming Press but one day it all came together,” Kyle said. “Ever since he got in the coffee business and opened that shop, I would always go in there and we helped each other where we could but I think he felt it was time to hand it over to someone else.”

It was bittersweet for Eisen to turn over the keys to the coffee house he had been involved since 2015, when he bought a 12% stake in the company that morphed into Lakeside Coffee.

But he is excited to return to the space as a customer for the first time in nearly seven years.

“I wanted to thank all of our customers for making Lakeview Coffee such a special place,” stated Lakeview owner Ori Eisen. “As a resident of the area, we are excited to work with Press Coffee in continuing what we started. Good luck to Press, and I am looking forward to being a customer.”

ing the chef,” Newlin said. “Over the years we’ve created different concepts through the Gastamo Group.”

However, it was an idea for a chicken restaurant that called out to Newlin as he realized chicken is a product he could cook quickly and create several concoctions out of.

He also saw chicken restaurants as being an industry in which he could conquer the biggest challenges plaguing the restaurant industry.

“Birdcall for us was the idea that emerged when we were building these full-service restaurants and we saw that there were continued challenges – even before the pandemic,” Newlin said. “We saw when looking at the future of dining that we were going to hit a wall where we would have to decide between decreasing quality or increasing the price. It didn’t feel right to do.”

Then, while eating at a pizza restaurant in California where robots made pizza, Newlin found a way to ease customers into the future of fast food.

He thought about restaurants using giant tablet kiosks where customers could place an order and creating a restaurant where the employees felt they could pay more attention to customers. “We didn’t want to replace team members, we wanted to create new and exciting jobs,” Newlin said.

“There’s such an opportunity for us to focus on hospitality that rather than us asking if customers want to add fries or add extra meat, we want to ask customers how their day is going, what brought them in and how we can make them feel special.”

The concept began to grow in its native Colorado with seven restaurants – two are inside Whole Foods supermarkets – and Newlin set his sights on expanding the brand outside of the rocky mountain state over two years ago.

Newlin found the former home of El Pollo Loco off the corner of Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard for sale and decided to restore the vacant property by utilizing its existing kitchen, gutting its floors and making the space a place where customers would feel comfortable from the moment they entered.

The past two years have been spent laying hand-made tiles, installing custom made windows, updating the space to accommodate new technologies, expanding the patio and decorating the interior of the restaurant with local art, photography, painting a grand mural and installing two video game machines.

But it is the drive-thru where Newlin feels his restaurant separates itself from the pack.

“We were focused on the drive-thru and how we create an experience with music, string lights, local art and our staff greeting customers,” he said. “We even built custom menu displays to bring the inside out so that customers get the same experience they would have in the restaurant.”

Whether customers indulge inside the restaurant or through the drivethru, Newlin is excited to give Arizonans a chance to sink their teeth into one of Birdcall’s chicken sandwiches or crunch into one of its signature salads — which he cites as being on-par with the sandwiches.

“When I think of Birdcall, I never think about a chicken sandwich,” he said. “We’re just as much about the salads as we are the sandwich.”

Birdcall has merged with local brands like Noble Bakery — which will bake Birdcall’s buns daily— as well as SanTan Brewing Co. and Greenwood Brewing — who will have their beers on tap at Birdcall.

Birdcall will also donate at least 1% of sales to the local community and to support local businesses.

“This to us isn’t opening a restaurant in Arizona, this is building a home and we’re excited to be in Scottsdale,” Newlin said. “You can open restaurants anywhere but it’s fun to open restaurants in places that you love.

With his first desert location opened, Newlin plans to open restaurants in Glendale, Phoenix and SanTan Village by the end of the year.

Birdcall has entered the pen of the Scottsdale Restaurant industry serving a variety of hot chicken sandwiches, seasoned sides and organic sodas. (Special to the Progress)

Information: eatbirdcall.com

PRESS ���� page 23

Kyle made it a point to make the transition as seamless as possible and offered all of Lakeside’s employees a job with Press Coffee.

“When we went into that location, we loved that staff and we offered them all a position with Press and most of them took us up on it,” Kyle said.

Although the building was already primed to function as a coffee shop, Kyle still wanted to alter the location to match his brand’s standards and maximize the capacity of the 1,300 squarefoot space. “We’ve had more difficult remodels but since it was already a coffee shop the main things were already there like the flow, the drains and the counters,” Kyle said. “It was more of a matter of aesthetics when we began our remodel.”

One of the biggest changes came with the removal of Lakeside’s in-house roaster.

“Since we do our roasting at the roastery, we didn’t need to use the roaster they had there,” Kyle said. “That allowed us to add 10 seats indoors and we’re also redoing the patio to add more seating.”

With the nearly three-month-long remodel wrapping up, Kyle has launched two philanthropic efforts that will coincide with the opening. To celebrate the grand opening, Press Coffee will sell $1 drip coffee May 13-15 with 100% of profits donated to HopeKids! – a local nonprofit created to restore hope and transform the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions and their families through ongoing events, activities and more around the community

“HopeKids! is a great organization and they do stuff that is amazing for people in a situation you hope to never be in,” Kyle said. “It’s hard not to want to want to help an organization like that, especially if you have kids.”

Press Coffee is also working with the Scottsdale-based nonprofit Two Pups Wellness Fund by donating $5 from every bag of Press Coffee’s “Press On Charity Blend.”

“There are three owners in the business and we all have areas that we migrate towards,” Kyle said. “Two Pups was co-owner Alex Mason’s selection since he has had certain experiences that have been positive with what they’ve done, which is why we chose them as our quarterly charity to help out.”

Kyle is excited about the prospects of opening another location and serving the community more than a steaming cup of joe.

“It’s a great neighborhood and we’re most excited to connect with the people that live there and the members of that community,” Kyle said.

Neuropathy Is Often Misdiagnosed

Muscle cramping, difficulty walking, burning, tingling, numbness, and pain in the legs or feet are symptoms of neuropathy people live with every day,” explains Dr. Kerry Zang, podiatric medical director of CIC Foot & Ankle. “The thing is PAD has very similar symptoms. So similar that in many cases, people are told it’s neuropathy when it may not be.”

Medicine is often prescribed. “Pills aren’t a cure, they just suppress the symptoms,” says Zang. “If neuropathy isn’t causing the symptoms, the real problem could get worse.”

It’s important to determine if PAD (peripheral artery disease) is causing the pain or making it worse. PAD is plaque in the arteries which causes poor circulation. “Blood brings oxygen and nutrients to your feet which they need to stay healthy,” explains Zang, “When your feet aren’t getting an adequate supply, they start sending signals.” Those signals include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or cramping.

The good news is PAD is treatable in an office setting. Dr. Joel Rainwater, MD endovascular specialist explains, “We go into the bloodstream to find the blockage using imaging guidance. Then with small tools that can go into the smallest arteries, remove the blockage, and restore blood flow.”

Getting the proper diagnosis is the first step to getting better. “It’s all about finding out what’s causing the problem,” says Zang. “When your feet burn, tingle, or feel numb, it’s your body telling you it needs help, and you should listen.”

If your neuropathy medication is not working, your symptoms may be an indication of another condition.

For golfers, a stiff big toe can make their game suffer.

HELP!

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Don’t wait for your feet to yell at you. If your feet hurt, they are talking to you. Our doctors can help tell you what they are saying.

Does foot pain prevent you from doing your favorite activity? Do you have burning or tingling in your legs or feet? Do you have leg or foot cramps with activity or at rest?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of these questions, call our office today to see how our doctors can help.

(602)954-0777 azfeet.com

Dr. Kerry Zang • Dr. Shah Askari • Dr. Dan Schulman • Dr. Kim Leach Dr. Barry Kaplan • Dr. Jeff Weiss • Dr. Patrick Gillihan

Stiff Joints Interfere with Everyday Living

One in 40 people over the age of 50 may find themselves limiting their activity because of a condition called hallux rigidus. It’s a degenerative disease of the big toe joint. As it progresses, the pain in the joint increases and motion decreases.

“People don’t realize the impact their big toe has on their life. It plays a role in balance, shock absorption, and forward movement as you walk,” explains Dr. Daniel Schulman, of CiC Foot & Ankle. “When the joint is stiff, it’s not able to bend and rotate properly, and it changes how we walk without us even realizing it.” These changes can lead to back or knee pain as well as discomfort in other parts of the foot.

“It always concerns me to hear that someone is playing less golf or staying home because they’re in pain,” says Schulman. “There are ways to help.” The goal is to protect your feet from the repetitive stress of everyday activities. “We have several treatment options to not only relieve foot pain but help improve how your feet work. If we can help your feet function better, in many cases the need for surgery can be avoided or at the very least postponed,” says Schulman. “Patients are always happy to learn about ways to alleviate their symptoms.”

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 8, 2022

Airpark Motorsports making waves with cars

BY JORDAN HOUSTON

Progress Staff Writer

Since Airpark Motorsports’ inception a little over �ive years ago, the vintage car repair shop has undergone two location changes, dominated the stages at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and served as the muscle behind high-pro�ile Superformance vehicles, such as the wheels showcased in the 2019 �ilm “Ford v. Ferrari”– and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The family-owned operation, now located at 7722 E. Gray Road, is taking the collector car industry by storm by repairing, building, restoring and maintaining vintage, collector and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles. It emphasizes quality results featuring faster speeds, smoother rides and better performances, according to its website. A Roush dealer and Superformance install, service, warranty and parts center, Airpark Motorsports recently relocated from its previous Airpark location on 82nd Street to better accommodate its burgeoning capabilities. “The growth is unbelievable right now (and) the market is on �ire,” said Robyn Borucki, who runs the hot rod shop with her husband, Chris, and their son Christian. “There are now people collecting from every age group, they’re starting to remember what they had when they were younger,” she continued. “You see people buying cars, whether it’s something they have always wanted, something their family had or something they could never afford.” The shop prides itself in offering expert mechanical repair and diagnostics. It specializes in restoring vintage rides with modern conveniences, such as updating brakes, steering and suspension, without diminishing integrity. Airpark Motorsports boasts certi�ications from the Automotive Service Excellence, Bourget’s Bike Works, Ford and Lotus, among others. “In my very humble opinion, Arizona, and especially Scottsdale, is the mecca for vintage classic and collector cars of the world,” Robyn said. “It isn’t really categorized that way yet, but when you see what our auctions bring in, and with our perfect climate with no humidity, there are amazing collections of cars here.” The family-owned operation’s staff is small but mighty. Robyn, the designated Chaos Coordinator, manages operational tasks to ensure Airpark Motorsports itself is a well-oiled machine. Her role includes budgeting, locating obsolete parts and keeping the builds on time. With over 40 years in the industry under his belt, Chris shines as the mechanical mastermind. He thrives working on restoration projects, routine maintenance and general repairs, Robyn said of her husband. “He has a God-given gift. His mechanical expertise is not anything that can be taught, it’s from within,” Robyn shared. “And that is the same for our son. He didn’t go to school for it, he got to practice his crafts from technicians at gas stations.” Christian, 27, spearheads the shop’s creativity and craftsmanship behind the rest-mod builds and vintage vehicle restorations. According to the company’s website, his “mechanical knowledge and exquisite craftsmanship is complimented by a forward-thinking can-do attitude that makes him a natural for resto-mod builds and vintage vehicle restorations.” One of his passion projects includes an extensively-modi�ied 1959 Pontiac Bonneville. The restorations featured rack and pinion power steering, Wilwood disc brakes and coilover suspension on all four corners. The craftsman coated the Bonneville’s exterior in Porsche’s famous shade, Riviera Blue. He also restored chrome body panels, such as the bumpers and trim around the headlights and windows. On the inside, the cabin now sports a contrasting tan leather. It also features a Rockford Fosgate sound system, Vintage Air climate control, power windows and power seats. “One thing that I think is way up there is our client relations,” Christian said. “There is not a car that comes in here that someone from the family doesn’t touch, in one way or another. We don’t just take clients in and pass them off to one of the technicians or to a service writer, our clients turn into our friends.” A driving force in the industry, Airpark Motorsports’ history wasn’t always smooth cruising. The Boruckis moved in 2000 from Illinois to Arizona after successfully running a previous local repair shop that serviced daily drivers. With no plans to carry over the business, Chris went on to work for a Cadillac dealership. In 2011, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The “gear head,” following a successful craniotomy, was then inspired to tap into his passion of working on ‘70s classics, customs and collector cars, Robyn explains. He joined a local hot rod shop in 2013 before tragedy struck again. Chris was diagnosed with cancer. By 2017, a cancer-free Chris and Robyn agreed it was time to reclaim their employment opportunities – and thus, Airpark Motorsports was born. They rented a small hangar. Nine months later, the blossoming business transitioned into its second location on 82nd street, boasting a roughly-12,000-square-foot space. Now, Airpark Motorsports is thriving in its current 43,000-square-foot facility – and has plans to evolve into a onestop-shop for all classic automotive needs. Robyn said the shop will soon offer inhouse services for �inancing, insurance, third-party title registration, storage, consignment and preferred towing services, among other vital services. It’s also gearing up for a new venture with Great American Motorsports, slated to occupy the upstairs of the facility as a Superformance dealer. The designated “Cobra Supercenter of the West” will offer clients access to the full catalogue of Superformance, a distributor for “Rolling Chassis” replica and continuation race cars of the 1960’s.

Information: Airparkmotorsports. com.

Chris Borucki and son Christian, along with Chris’ wife Robyn Borucki, are making a big impression in the collector car industry with their business, Airpark Motors-

ports. (Special to the Progress)