The Beat makes changes to open doors to all ages

For many years Jennifer and Michael Cornthwaite have been too busy to take a long vacation, but this summer they did, traveling for six weeks with their 2½-year-old daughter. The experience caused them to look at one of their enterprises in a new way.

"All we were looking for is a place to eat where we could get a drink, but one that wasn't too fussy," Jennifer said. "We wanted a place where it wasn't a big deal if our daughter got up and wandered a little, where there was something to keep her entertained, but where we could still have a quality, adult meal."

The trip would have been impossible prior to this spring when the couple divested themselves of some of their properties and the attached responsibilities, in part because, as new parents, they wanted to have more time to focus on their child.

"When we got back, we thought, 'Why don't we make The Beat that way?' " Jennifer said. "We didn't want to make it a kid's restaurant in a chain family restaurant kind of way; we just wanted to make it more comfortable for parents."

It took a little work to make the changes the revised license called for, but the Cornthwaites hope the result will allow the downtown coffee shop and cafe to keep its funky edge while welcoming kids and their parents.

"There are a few options to go get a bite with your kids downtown," said downtown resident Jessica Brown. "There are a few places that are friendly to children, but some of them don't serve the healthiest of foods. The Beat has quite a few healthy options on the menu."

Previously, The Beat's license allowed it to serve beer and wine, but only after 7 p.m. That also meant anyone younger than 18 had to be off the premises by then. The new license and some creative rearranging of the furniture allow beer and wine sales all day and make it so customers younger than 21 can come to evening open mic events, readings and art openings.

"Before, I couldn't even come here at night with my own kid to the place I own," Jennifer said.

The change is subtle. A row of display cases divides a row of seats from the general seating area. Previously, those seats legally changed from counter seating to a bar at 7 p.m. Under the new license, children aren't allowed at the counter, but the tall stools were never meant to be occupied by children. A shelf that previously held thought-provoking books and games such as chess now has a few children's books and games in the mix.

Other than that, it's the same place, with people sipping coffee while holding quiet conversation or tapping away on a laptop or tablet or enjoying a meal with a friend or client — but now sometimes you can also find a mom coloring with her child between sips of a latte, or a dad and kid reading a book.

"Our lives are changing now that we are a little older and we have kids," Jennifer said. "I'm probably not going to go out to a bar at 10 at night, but I might want to have a glass of wine with lunch on a Saturday afternoon."

Visit thebeatlv.com or call 702-385-2328.

— To reach East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor, email ataylor@viewnews.com or call 702-380-4532.