Ex-Welcome Diner pair to launch new Phoenix restaurant group. Here's what we know

Phoenix diners may or may not know Michael Babcock and Wayne Coats by name. But most downtown dwellers have probably heard of Welcome Diner, the indie Garfield neighborhood restaurant where Babcock was chef and Coats general manager. 

The pair left the restaurant and parent company Welcome Hospitality, which also operates Welcome Chicken + Donuts, in late May.

Now, they're ready to share some details about what they're doing next. 

Babcock and Coats have joined forces with industry veterans Robert Cissell and Paul Waxman to launch Instrumental Hospitality Group. Local developer Chuckie Duff will partner with the newly formed restaurant team. 

"It kind of feels like a super group," Babcock told The Republic.

"I'm definitely really excited to just take a break for a little while and then start something new." 

MORE:10 best restaurant dishes of 2018 in Phoenix — out of a mere 2,576

What is Instrumental Hospitality Group? 

Babcock and his new partners have various connections in the food and music scenes. 

"We all just know each other between the ether of music, arts and restaurants," Babcock says. 

More specifically, Cissell and Waxman both played in the well-loved local band Dear and the Headlights. Coats' former band toured with Dear and the Headlights on their first self-booked Southwest tour. Instrumental Hospitality Group's development partner Duff was a founding member of the band.

"He's kind of like the George Michael of the group," Babcock says of Duff's role with Instrumental. "He's the finance guy." 

Babcock says the group joining forces came about naturally, as word spread through the community that he and Coats were looking to start a new project. 

Cissell, who formerly worked at Gallo Blanco and Angry Crab Shack, eventually signed on as director of operations. Waxman, formerly of Cobra Arcade Bar, takes the title of beverage director. Babcock will be culinary director, while Coats will serve as director of hospitality. 

MORE:J. Cole spotted at Phoenix's Welcome Diner

Two restaurants are in the works

The first thing the team plans to do: research. In this case, by spending some time in Vietnam, specially the southeast part of the country formerly known as Saigon. 

Babcock, who was raised for most of his childhood by his Osakan-born grandmother, says Asian cuisines always have influenced his cooking. Instrumental Hospitality will continue to showcase that influence. 

"I'm really looking forward to kind of exploring the background I grew up in," Babcock says. "I feel like that's a really important moment for me to start expressing in Phoenix, getting back to my roots."

Currently, Babcock says the team is "finessing two solid concepts" and has secured potential locations for both, though nothing is set in stone just yet. He expects to have more details to announce in August. 

One thing he can confirm: The team is dedicated to staying in or near downtown Phoenix. 

"I think that being a part of the community that's supported me and all of us through our careers is very important to us," Babcock says. 

Details: instrumentalhospitality.com

Reach the reporter at lauren.saria@azcentral.com. Follow her on Instagram at laurensaria, on Twitter at lhsaria and on Facebook at facebook.com/lsaria.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.