Liberty Market
I grew up in the town of Gilbert, Arizona, and until a few years ago, it seemed like a boring old town because there wasn’t much to do there. However, it has been rapidly developing and growing in the last few years. Though it is considered one of the fastest growing communities in the nation, this town really values the small town atmosphere. Gilbert has kept up the small town feel by maintaining The Heritage District, Gilbert’s historic downtown. A few years ago a historic market reopened as the new and improved Liberty Market restaurant.
The Liberty Market was opened in 1935 as a family-run grocery store. In 2008, the store was renovated and reinvented into today’s Liberty Market, an up-scale café. The atmosphere of the restaurant incorporates the small town feel of the market with the new urban feel of the restaurant itself. Joe Johnston, the owner of the restaurant, has a niche in the business world. He started The Coffee Plantation in 1989. It grew rapidly and he and his partner sold it in 1993. Since then, he has opened Joe’s Real BBQ and Joe’s Farm Grill, both of which are successfully growing. Johnston’s businesses not only have been from the great food, but his desire to humbly serve his customers also keeps people coming back.
Street View of Liberty Market
Liberty Market is located on the corner of a small intersection in the middle of The Heritage District. The old-fashioned street lamps flood the path with light to lead up to the Market where green and pink neon lights frame the name of the establishment. The brick walls and large windows give the restaurant an old diner feel. As you walk into the restaurant, the smell of fresh baked pizzas and desserts fills your nose as you notice bar stools line the front window with a table facing out to watch walkers pass by, along with small tables throughout the room. The chatter of the guests echoes through the room to compliment the sound of food being cooked behind the counter.
Liberty Market attracts people of all ages and backgrounds. After talking to a few different customers at the restaurant, Johnston seems to have succeeded in this area because the people that I was able to speak to were returning customers. A young couple from California said that they wanted to try Liberty Market because they often drove by it and the look of the building always caught their eye. Not knowing any other good places in town, they gave it a shot and fell in love.
Although the atmosphere of a restaurant is very important because it is the initial attraction of customers, there is more to a restaurant than what it looks like and the atmosphere that it has developed for itself. [What I look for in a restaurant is the quality of food, the variety in the menu, and the service.] The quality of food is important because people won’t return to a restaurant if the food isn’t delicious. Liberty Market has a wide variety of foods including wood-oven pizzas, savory pastas, and hand-tossed salads. One of the most popular items on the menu is their white pizza. Also, they have a wide assortment of bottled drinks such as Italian sodas that makes anyone feel like a kid again. Not only is their quality of food incredible, but also the service is unforgettably hospitable. The owners state in their principles that they are servants and desire to “provide exceptional and genuine service to each customer” and this is definitely shown by all of their staff. When ordering your food, the cashier greets you with a smile. If it’s your first visit and you can’t decide on what you want to order, any staff member would be happy to let you know what they recommend. If you’re wondering whether or not you’ll fall in love with this restaurant, go try the food for free on your birthday!
Many people love this restaurant because it is different from most restaurants today. On the website, their principles they live by as owners and employees are clearly stated. They exemplify the care and qualities that go into providing good service. They have declared that they are “Christians… craftsmen… professionals… hospitable… teachers… servants.. and design-oriented.” As Christians, they expect a moral code of conduct from the employees to be evident in how they treat customers. As a customer, these moral standards are important because people know that they can bring their children into an environment where the staff isn’t dressed provocatively. As craftsmen and professionals, they take time and effort to create the best quality of food they can in a clean environment, which is very important to customers because we want to know that we can trust that the preparation of the food was safe. They are hospitable, teachers, and servants by making people feeling welcome, willing to hold classes that teach customers how to make some of their foods, and by providing humble service to all of their customers. Service is extremely important to customers because people want to know that their opinion matters. Their unique style exemplifies how they are design-oriented. This is seen in their innovative restrooms that have unisex stalls set up along with community sinks. When walking into the restrooms, there is a line of sinks across from stalls that can be used by either men or women.
The innovative unisex stalls in the restroom.
The goal of the Liberty Market is to attract customers by the unique appeal of being old-fashioned with an accent of urban and snag them as a regular. From the old-town exterior to the unisex restrooms, this place has hit their goals on the dot. The attitude of the staff and the heart of the owners is what really give this restaurant a small, cozy, hometown feel. I think people enjoy being taken back a couple generations by the appearance of this restaurant and the wholesome service that the staff provides. I enjoy eating at Liberty Market because the food is absolutely delicious and I know that whenever I go, I know that I will be taken care of. Liberty Market may be a little far from the big city, but making a trip out is definitely worth the drive.
