For six months, the building at Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue has sat empty, its dark windows a sharp contrast to the cranes and construction just a few blocks east on the same stretch of road.

Until late August, that address — 915 N. Central Ave. — was home to DeSoto Central Market, an ambitious adaptive-reuse project that put a food hall in the heart of the downtown Phoenix arts district. For a time, DeSoto was a hub for the downtown community. Its abrupt end caught many by surprise, making the list of most shocking restaurant closures in 2018.

It also triggered speculation about what would become of the space.

Now, there are new plans for the 90-year-old building.

One of downtown's most well-respected developers has purchased the property and plans to reopen its doors before the end of the year.

What we know about the new concept

Charles Duff, who goes by "Chuckie," is the developer behind some of downtown's most popular hot spots, including Cobra Arcade Bar and Gracie's Tax Bar. His other projects include the buildings that house Gallo Blanco, Palabra and Ladera Taverna y Cocina.

Duff purchased the former DeSoto building in late 2018. Along with his business partners, he plans to open a new "bar and nightlife concept" in the space. At this time, Duff declined to elaborate on the project.

"It's kind of in with a lot of the other projects we've done downtown," he says.

According to records filed with the Arizona Department of Liquor, the concept will be called Life. It will hold a Series 6 liquor license, which is intended for bars.

Duff says other details have yet to be finalized, but he confirmed the entire building will be occupied by a single concept. At roughly 12,000 square feet, that would make the new bar one of largest nightlife destinations in the area.

The developer says there's "a fair amount" of work to be done before any new concept can launch, though the goal is to open before the end of the year.

What you should know about Chuckie Duff

In some ways, that Duff would be interested in the building should come as no surprise.

His company, EQ Arizona, almost exclusively rehabs old buildings. The former DeSoto building is a prime candidate: It was originally constructed in 1928 and is known for being the home of the C.P. Stephens DeSoto Six Motorcars dealership.

However, even for the experienced developer, the community's interest in the future of the building has been intense. Many of his recent projects, including a 1920s market in the Garfield neighborhood, have been outside of the downtown core, "but this is right in the middle of it. People are definitely interested."

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.