The Hayden House
It was 1873 when Charles Trumbull Hayden, a businessman and one of the earliest settlers of Tempe, built an adobe hacienda for his family, located directly across the street from his flour mill. Other websites document the history of the building with much greater detail than I can, but over the years it underwent a number of expansions and served as a boarding house, private residence, and a restaurant. In 1924, the house was restored to its original appearance.
Monti's La Casa Vieja
In 1947, Leonard F. Monti, a World War II veteran, moved to Chandler and opened a restaurant called Monti's Grill. In 1954, he bought Hayden's adobe house and opened Monti's La Casa Vieja ("The Old House") in 1956.
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| Monti's La Casa Vieja restaurant in Tempe operated for 58 years before closing in 2014. |
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| Monti's La Casa Vieja, Tempe, AZ. September 27, 1972. Photo: Tempe History Museum |
Leonard Monti passed the family business down to his son Michael Monti in 1993, and sadly the founder "Lenny" as he was often called passed away in 1997 at 85 years old. The restaurant is recognized as one of the oldest structures in the Salt River Valley, and the oldest continuously occupied structure in Tempe. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and the Tempe Historic Property Register in 2000.
End of an Era
After 58 years, Michael Monti announced in 2014 that the restaurant's rising costs of operation had forced him to sell the property. The famous Monti's La Casa Vieja closed in late 2014 after 58 years of service. The building and its 2.5 acres of land were sold to a Colorado based developer, Hensel Phelps, who planned to build a new mixed-use office/retail development called One Hundred Mill. The later additions to the Hayden House were demolished, but the original adobe structure was preserved and was intended for use as a restaurant.
At the time of writing in late 2018, no construction has taken place and the developer had agreed to sell the building back to the City of Tempe as well as invest in renovations and improvements to the 145 year old structure, and reimburse the city for property tax breaks that were given as an incentive.
Lenny Monti's House of Steaks
Historical aerial imagery shows a building in that location in the Spring of 1976.
The November 19, 1981 issue of the Arizona Republic carried this ad for Monti's:
Lenny & his family invite you to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Complete turkey dinner $25 w/all the trimmings plus dessert. Children's portions only $3.00. We will be serving from our regular menu also. For Thanksgiving reservations call 997-5844. 12025 N 19th Ave Phoenix. 19th Ave and Cactus.
A later advertisement from May 22, 1998 featured a section of "North Phoenix Community Cuisine" with the following advertisement for Monti's:
LENNY MONTI'S RESTAURANT 12025 N. 19th Ave. - 997-5844 Upholding a nearly 50 year tradition isn't easy, but Leonard Monti, Jr., son Mario and daughter, Gina continue to serve Phoenix at 19th Avenue and Cactus with the same excellence in food and warm ambiance that his parents began back in 1947. Original artwork along with native American art and jewelry are showcased in an elegant western decor; a perfect compliment to Lenny Monti's famous steaks, prime rib and mouth watering seafood. An outdoor dining area surrounds a fountain in the courtyard. Enjoy your next lunch, dinner or banquet at Lenny Monti's 19th Avenue and Cactus location, and you'll see why the Monti family tradition of good food, generous portions and good prices are a legend in the valley! One of the long-time regulars put it: "Lenny Monti knows how to treat a steak and a customer". Lenny Monti's is open seven days a week Sunday thru Thursday 11AM to 10PM and Friday. Saturday 11AM to 11PM. Weekend reservations are suggested.
The building was in place until April 2005, and was torn down by early 2006. It is not known if it operated as Lenny Monti's the entire time. In 2016, a discount retail store called Family Dollar was built on part of the site formerly occupied by Lenny Monti's. All that remains of the restaurant is the sign at the corner of the parking lot:
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| The sign is all that remains of the former Lenny Monti's location in North Phoenix at 19th Ave. and Cactus Road |
23 comments:
My mother worked there for about 35 years at Kenny montis house of steaks. It was not the 2nd location of the Tempe restaurant. Leonard Monti senior and Leonard Monti junior had a disagreement and junior opened his own place on 19th ave and cactus. It was a family feud!
I worked there during highschool back in the 90's and there absolutely was a HUGE family feud! I loved all of the people I worked with and the food was amazing. I was so sad when I found out it was gone. I recall one year when some kids had set Shawbutte mountain on fire and it came pretty close to the restaurant but it survived only to be torn down.... Such a shame!
I worked there in the 80's as a busboy and I was told that the Monti's ran the kitchen. It was a GREAT place to work and a total throwback to the wild west.
Who is your mom? My mom opened it when I was in 1st grade. Louise aka Grandma
My husband, kids and I used to go there sporadically for their awesome steaks and seafood, generous portions, and very dark romantic ambiance - when it was just my husband and me ;)
The place always smelled heavily of cigarettes and grilled food, but that didn't deter us from enjoying it. One of the waitresses there was always so kind, and when she took our orders she looked each of us in the eye, pen placed on her tablet, and never looked down to see what she wrote.
I used to work at Leonardo's Marble & Granite for Michelle Mon to. While I was working for her Michelle purchased the Oxbow in Payson. I worked Monday thru Friday in Mesa and Sat. & Sunday in Payson. They served the same prime rib & fried chicken with spaghetti. The food was great and I am very sorry to hear they are no more. Best Prime Rib I have ever eaten.
I worked there in 1988 for about 6 months and Lenny never said a word to me, He seemed very standoffish and anti social, His Son Mario was cool, But either way they had great food, but I eventually left to join the Army.
I was a bus boy there in 1976. I was fired for sitting on a milk crate in the kitchen to tie my shoe, during one of Lenny's infamous screaming tantrums (screaming at everything and anything that moved).
They had a fabulous Roquefort Bleu Cheese salad dressing... I'd sure love to have that recipe.
I worked there as a waitress for five years from 76-81. The most enjoyable job I ever had. The waitress team was so much fun and were all so supportive of each other. I met my significant other there and we were together until his death in 2016. I was heartbroken to find it was torn down. Bee
Every time we’d visit from Texas we found NO other steaks worth while to eat unless it was at Monti’s! It’s really disappointing to learn of it’s closure and Montis’ passing. I intend to visit the 19th Ave & Cactus location to evaluate what they have to offer.
Bid you well Lenny and family!
EdH Texan born and grazed.
I was born in '77 and have some nice memories of the N. Phoenix Monti's. Sad to see it's gone, this was one of the few restaurants I remember enjoying as a youngster, I think I actually liked their soup as a 5 or 6 year old. I attended ASU for a bachelor's degree and think I hit the Monti's on Mill Ave at least once, but this N. Phoenix Monti's is the one that makes me nostalgic. Looks like it's a Dollar Store location now, ugh, too bad. Someone should bring a similar place as Monti's back, it was a whole lot better than a Dollar Store, really. I haven't lived in Phoenix for quite a long time but I still remember this place and would sure visit for dinner if I could. Shaw Butte right next door, I wonder whether people still hang glide off of there. Guess there might not be any open space to land any more. The 80s were great. In hindsight, Phoenix was a pretty neat spot to grow up.
Unfortunately the North Phoenix restaurant was torn down over 15 years ago.
Speaking of their salads, I remember as a kid they’d come around and ask if you wanted fresh ground black pepper on your salad. It was special...There was something else good in the seasoned salad topping. Do you know what it was? I’d like to try to replicate it.
Casa Vieja was one of my favorite places for a steak dinner 1975 76
To this date, I still dream of their flavor.
Ellen Riedel. I am her son Joseph and I remember Louise fondly!
Does anyone know if the blue cheese dressing recipe is available? It was the best! After moving to California, I would pay the 19th Ave restaurant to ship me the blue cheese salad dressing.
My mom used to take us girls there for a special treat. Sure do miss the place. I pass by it every day on my way to work and only the empty sign is still there. Thank you Montis for the special memories.
I ate there in 1986 while a senior in high school for a work/school class. Lots of memories. Phoenix has lost so many good places. Seems like Phoenix just doesnt' value older places. So sad.
Ellen was a great lady
I am dating MarioMonti and can get you the recipe if you like.
I would love the recipe.
I can’t find any online images at all of the North Phoenix Monti’s…My family used to go there regularly in the late 1970’s when I was a kid. Surely someone must have old photos or even home movies of this restaurant to share?!
Recipe for everything lol. let Mario know the Banks family says hi. We would eat there sometimes 3 nights a week
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