Photography by Brandon Sullivan From left: Chris Petroff, Courtney Klein Johnson, John Sagasta, Cindy Dach, Jenny Poon

Boldly marching headlong against a century of false-starts is a cadre of crusaders working to transform Downtown Phoenix into a thriving entrepreneurial community. Courtney Klein Johnson and Chris Petroff launched Seed Spot, a local business incubator offering an eight-month curriculum to help entrepreneurs start up businesses. Seed Spot aims to create a vibrant commercial ecosystem by helping incubator graduates find Downtown real estate, occupy vacant buildings and support future entrepreneurs. The startup primarily looks to cultivate companies with a conscience – “highly-successful companies that are not just profitable; they’re doing something purposeful in the world,” Petroff says.

Working closely with Johnson and Petroff is Jenny Poon, founder of CO+HOOTS, a co-working space designed to help entrepreneurs build businesses and foster creative connections. More than 50 regular businesses share the space with about a dozen drop-in individuals each day. Poon hopes CO+HOOTS will be a driving factor in the creation of a thriving Washington Row corridor. “Ultimately, Washington Row’s goal is for entrepreneurs to come out strong.” Poon says. “Let’s be known for something positive, something that we have going for us already. Let’s not be known for Tent City anymore, all right?”

On nearby Roosevelt Row, John Sagasta’s three eateries – Jobot Coffee, Nachobot, and Bodega 420 – have become social hubs for the First Friday crowd, ASU students and Roosevelt Row denizens. Each location is bedecked with local art work, while Valley-based bands frequently provide the soundtrack. In the wake of the Phoenix Public Market’s closing, Sagasta opened Bodega 420, so Downtowners could continue to buy local produce and products on a daily basis. Now Sagasta is focused on making his current operations sustainable and inciting creativity in his employees. “I would really like to create a space for them where they can start making some lucrative money and learn more about the business,” he says. “Maybe they run off and do their own thing. Man, that is the best form of flattery to me, you know?”

Meanwhile, Cindy Dach – co-owner of Tempe’s Changing Hands Bookstore and Downtown’s Eye Lounge and MADE Art Boutique – is continuing her role as one of Roosevelt Row’s founding mothers and biggest boosters. This summer, the Roosevelt Row Arts District received a $150,000 grant from ArtPlace. As acting director of the Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation, Dach plans to use the funds to create an “A.R.T.S. Village” that will repurpose shipping containers to create art studios. A “Feast on the Street” arts and culinary event next April is also on the table for what Dach describes as one of the most “vibrant, unique communities in Arizona.”