The Stockyards is one of the oldest steakhouses in Phoenix. Opened in 1947 in a building that was formerly a beef packing house owned by Edward A. Tovrea, the space feels like equal parts restaurant and museum.
From the outside, you'd never guess the history it holds. The outwardly unassuming building is located just steps away from the light rail track in southeast Phoenix, surrounded by office buildings and a large parking lot. But entering the restaurant feels like stepping back in time.
The design marries Old West imagery with vintage elegance. Chandeliers made of cattle brands and light dark wooden dining tables. Swinging saloon-style doors separate one part of the restaurant from the next. Framed on one wall hangs an authentic 48-star American
flag that belonged to the original owner's grandfather.
And the restaurant is believed to be haunted by "The Lady in Red," an unnamed woman who is depicted in a painting in the bar. Employees have reported falling trash cans, a piano playing itself and even apparitions of the Lady herself.
General manager Travis Moore is skeptical about the ghost stories. In his 28 years working at the restaurant, he hasn't personally had any ghostly encounters. Instead, he feels his job as general manager is to "honor the heritage and history of Arizona's cattle industry."
"It is an old building, and we want to make sure we take good care of it," Moore said. "We kind of consider ourselves shepherds of the place more than anything."
The Stockyards is a monument to Arizona history
What is now The Stockyards restaurant began as an actual stockyard for cattle belonging to Edward Tovrea, who was known as the "Cattle Baron" for his prolificity in the local beef industry, in 1919. The physical building was first used primarily for business administration, with the cow pens surrounding the offices outside. Edward Tovrea died in 1932, but his legacy was carried on by his son, Phillip.
In 1947 The Stockyards cafe opened, primarily to feed the cattlemen and employees of the Tovrea Stockyards. After a fire destroyed much of the building in 1953, it was rebuilt and reopened as The Stockyards steakhouse in 1954.
Today, the restaurant acts as a living history museum dedicated to Arizona's cattle industry. The hallway leading into the bar is decked with old newspapers, photographs and early restaurant menus, all cataloguing the history of both the restaurant and the Tovrea family's influence. Servers' uniforms include bolo ties embossed with the Tovrea brand, also called the "circle walking L." Booths throughout the dining room are dedicated to famous Arizonans, from a state historian to members of the Tovrea family.
What's on the menu at The Stockyards?
Steak has been the focal point of The Stockyards' menu since the '50s. Moore said that while the basics of the menu have stayed the same, a few modern additions have been made, especially to the appetizers and sides sections of the menu.
Menu highlights include the house specialty — slow roasted and hand cut prime rib. Moore said the thinly sliced parmesan potatoes with garlic cream sauce is "kind of our signature side item." There's also bourbon shrimp with candied bacon and, for dessert, pecan pie and bread pudding.
Is The Stockyards really haunted?
The haunted lore around the restaurant isn't something Moore is as excited about.
Several employees and guests have reported seeing apparitions of a woman dressed similarly to the one depicted in the mural. The daughter of one employee said she saw a lady in a red dress crying in the women's bathroom, when there was no one dressed like that reportedly dining in the restaurant at the time. Another manager once thought he saw the lady walk past him while he was sitting at the bar. The restaurant even lost an entire cleaning crew because they swore they felt a ghostly presence in the dining room after hours.
While some guests and employees have reported "sightings," Moore said he's never seen anything unusual himself. He believes older businesses have a tendency to come with haunted rumors. "Very few new restaurants that opened six months ago are haunted, I don't think," he said. "Unless you're built on an ancient burial ground."
But who is "The Lady in Red" in one of the murals in the saloon area? While none of the subjects of the murals are named — they are inspired by the lyrics of old Western songs, Moore said — some have come to believe that the woman in the mural was inspired by Phillip Tovrea's wife, Helen, who was in charge of much of the restaurant's design when it reopened in the '50s.
Moore likes to think that if Helen Tovrea's ghost really is choosing to spend her afterlife at The Stockyards, "she's here to make sure we do a good job taking care of the restaurant."
How to visit The Stockyards in Phoenix
The Stockyards is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Details: 5009 E. Washington St., Suite 115, Phoenix. 602-273-7378, stockyardssteakhouse.com.
Reach the reporter at eddie.fontanez@azcentral.com. Follow @ERFontanez on Instagram.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Stockyards Steakhouse is a historic haunt packed with Arizona lore
