The folks at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Convention Center spent the COVID-19 pandemic renovating and upgrading its venues, from installing new seats and sound improvements at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Music Hall to expanding and improving the meeting rooms and parking garages at the Convention Center.
Downtown at Hotel Congress, the old Copper Room is being renovated to create the jazz club and agave/wine tasting room, the Century Club, which will debut in January when it hosts several events for the HSL Properties ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Jazz Festival.
A block west, the owners of HighWire Lounge are in the process of expanding their downtown footprint on a grand scale, taking over the shuttered Independent Distillery next door and the adjoining old Drawing Studio space in a move that will elevate its status as an entertainment destination for food and drink.
As we welcome 2022, we’ve circled back to some of the folks downtown who made sweet lemonade out of the pandemic’s sour lemons to see what the new year will bring.
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Ethan Grauberger of the Big Top Seating Co. installs end caps on the new seating at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Music Hall.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Convention Center
260 S. Church Ave., tucsonco
Workers spent the better part of the pandemic making $65 million worth of upgrades to the TCC campus, which includes the convention center, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Music Hall and Leo Rich Theater. The work included much-needed upgrades to the Music Hall, from new bathroom fixtures to new seats and carpet. They even cleaned the brick interior.
The historic fountain in the Eckbo Plaza outside the Music Hall also got some love; for the first time in years, the water was flowing.
The project also included adding as much as 20,000 square feet of meeting space near the ballroom and south exhibit hall in the TCC and renovating the restrooms at the smaller Leo Rich Theater, home to the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Friends of Chamber Music and its popular ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Winter Chamber Music Festival held each March.
TCC General Manager Glenn Grabski said there’s still work to be done including finishing the meeting rooms, which he anticipates will be done in February, in time for the 2022 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Gem & Mineral Show Feb. 10-13.
“We’re not finished, yet,†he said last week, but “I would say the heavy lifting is past us.â€
Grabski said the TCC is still working on the Lot C parking garage, which could be ready by April. In November 2020, it opened the 380-space parking garage in front of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Arena, next to the six-story, 170-room DoubleTree by Hilton ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Downtown Convention Center hotel, 280 S. Church Ave., that opened in May.
Grabski said with the improvements, he is seeing more interest from artists wanting to book ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Music Hall. Several acts already have been booked into the 2,289-seat venue for 2022, including the Marshall Tucker Band, which is bringing its 50th anniversary tour with Dave Mason on March 19.
Coming in 2022: Jazz great Dianne Reeves, Jan. 23; Ballet ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s “reFresh Winter Concert,†Jan. 28-30; ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera presents “Carmen,†Feb. 5-6; comedian Jo Koy “Funny is Funny World Tour,†Feb. 25; Chicago, March 1; country singer Justin Moore and Friends, March 12; comedian Tom Segura, March 24; Guatemalan singer-songwriter Ricardo Arjona “Blanco y Negro Tour 2022†(Black and White), March 27; Latin and reggaeton star J Balvin’s “José Tour 2022,†April 22; Celtic Woman’s “Postcards from Ireland,†May 3; “Happy Together,†July 14; and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Dec. 3.
HighWire Lounge
14 S. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Ave., highwire
If all goes according to plan, owners of HighWire Lounge, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s downtown destination for drinks made from spherified tequila droplets, cotton candy and other forms of molecular mixology, will be taking things to the next level just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The bar’s owners, Nicholas Eggman and John Hardin, have taken over the Independent Distillery next door, expanding HighWire’s size from 1,200 square feet to a whopping 7,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.
The plan is to turn the new building into their main bar and restaurant area. It comes with a huge kitchen which HighWire will share with its neighbor, Johnny Gibson’s Downtown Market.
A full menu will be available until 10 p.m. before the late-night munchies menu comes out. The focus will be on shareable plates.
“Instead of burgers, we’ll have sliders,†Hardin said. “Mini-pancakes, mini-doughnuts. Stuff that will fill you up, but if you and your friends each ordered a different plate, you could have a little of this, a little of that.â€
Eggman said HighWire had long outgrown its original space, located around the corner from Hub Restaurant & Ice Creamery on East Congress. They were already toying with the idea of relocating before the pandemic hit.
Once Independent Distillery announced its closure, HighWire made its move.
“It wasn’t the best time, but we knew we had to figure out a way to lock this in,†Eggman said. “When things got back into normal, we were going to need the space.â€
In addition to the restaurant aspect, the expanded HighWire will have a 27-foot-long, granite top bar, with five stations; three of them for your standard cocktails and the other two for craft beer, molecular mixology and tap cocktails.
Hardin said the bar will be set up so that bartenders won’t have to take more than two steps to reach any of the ingredients they need.
“People want craft cocktails, but they don’t want to wait for craft cocktails,†Hardin said. “We are hoping to be one of the fastest bars downtown.â€
Once the restaurant is up and running. HighWire will be working with Johnny Gibson’s to turn what was once the old Drawing Studio space, facing South Sixth Avenue into an all-singing, all-dancing event center for weddings and other special occasions.
“Johnny Gibson’s will be the retail, HighWire the nightlife and entertainment, and the event center will be more about community,†Eggman said.
Eggman and Hardin plan to have the expanded HighWire open by the first week in February. The original space and courtyard continue to operate, 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-midnight Sundays.
Clayton Lull of Aztec Flooring lays out flooring in the new Century Room at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street.
Hotel Congress
311 E. Congress St., hotelcon
The historic downtown hotel, home to the hip Club Congress and its Club Congress Plaza outdoor stage, completed the first phase of an ambitious $750,000 renovation project last summer. That work included expanding the usable space on its outdoor plaza, where concerts have been held since October 2020.
Hotel Congress expanded the plaza stage and installed misters and a retractable canopy for shading that allows it to take full advantage of the plaza even in the high heat of summertime.
“We’ve just really enhanced our plaza venue in several ways, and we’ll continue in 2022 with an upgraded sound system,†said David Slutes, Hotel Congress’s entertainment director.
Javier Gonzalez, left, and Aaron Candlish, of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Cabinet Innovations, work on the new Century Room at Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress Street. The Century Room is replacing Copper Hall and will become a jazz club and a mescal tasting lounge.
With COVID transmissions on the rise nationwide, Slutes said more artists are opting to hold their concerts outside.
“We just feel most people and the people who come here feel more comfortable on the outside plaza,†he said.
A centerpiece of the renovation project is building out the 2,200-square-foot Copper Hall near the lobby and creating the Century Room, which will have a jazz club on one end and an agave/wine tasting room on the other. The space will no longer have an entrance off the lobby. Instead, patrons will enter off Congress Street.
Slutes said they are working feverishly to finish the work in time for the 2022 HSL Properties ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Jazz Festival, which will include several after-party events at Congress. The first event booked into the Century Room is Arthur Vint & Associates on Jan. 19.
Coming in 2022: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ singer-songwriter Gabrielle Pietrangelo joins Howe Gelb and Bekah Rolland for her first solo performance in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ since the pandemic, Jan. 2; Dillinger Days, Jan. 15-16; Downtown Jazz Fiesta with Kendrick Scott, Jan. 17; English post-punkers Shame, Feb. 15; ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ rock duo Birds and Arrows, Feb. 25; legendary Brit rockers Modern English, March 26; and singer-songwriter Chris Smither, March 29.
Monica Flinn, right, at the family's El Charro Cafe in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, circa 1960s.
El Charro’s Centennial
Several locations including the downtown flagship at 311 N. Court Ave., elcharro
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s El Charro Café kicks off its yearlong 100th anniversary celebration with the opening early next year of , an homage to El Charro founder Monica Flin. The 4,500-square-foot restaurant with a sprawling 2,500-square-foot patio on the first floor of the Hexagon building at City Park will feature culinary creations from some of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s notable chefs and food personalities including baker Don Guerra.
It will be the second venture with Guerra and El Charro’s parent company Si Charro. In early January 2021, Si Charro and Guerra opened Barrio Charro at 3699 N. Campbell Ave.
The Monica is a nod to the classic American pantry and buffet-style dining halls whose menus change depending on what’s in the pantry.
New light fixtures and wallpaper are in place as work continues to get the new restaurant, The Monica, ready to open.
Si Charro President Ray Flores said The Monica, at 40 E. Congress St., has been in the works for several years but came together during the pandemic as a way to highlight not only the Flores family’s place in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s culinary landscape, but the efforts of other local chefs and restaurant operators.
Coming in 2022: The opening kicks off a year of events leading up to the September anniversary of Monica Flin opening the original El Charro Mexican restaurant in 1922. Some highlights include teaming up with Dragoon Brewing Co. on an El Charro cerveza of the century brew, creating a commemorative century salsa and collaborating with Mexican tequila maker for a special 100-year-old tequila.
El Teatro Carmen
380 S. Meyer Ave., facebook
Over the summer, Stratford Artworks, a local nonprofit run by Herb Stratford, purchased El Teatro Carmen downtown in the hopes of bringing the historic theater back to its former glory.
That dream is still a few years from completion, but Stratford, the man who spearheaded efforts to bring the Fox ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ back to life, said at least part of the property might be accessible for live music and film within the next six months.
The empty lot just south of the two buildings that make up the theater, at the corner of West Simpson Street and South Meyer Avenue, is part of Phase 1 of the renovation process and will be easier to complete, Stratford said. His goal is to hold live concerts and film screenings on the site.
“We are not talking a massive amount of infrastructure,†Stratford said.
Startford said the entire project received a boost earlier this month, when the Pima County Board of Supervisors agreed to purchase Teatro Carmen from Stratford Artworks and invest more than $1 million into its restoration.
Herb Stratford, president of Stratford Artworks, at Teatro Carmen, 380 S. Meyer Ave. Stratford Artworks bought Teatro Carmen with plans to return it to a performing arts space.
Stratford Artworks will stay on to see the theater through the process, then run the operation once the Carmen is complete.
“The county understands that we have a certain set of skills to get the job done,†Stratford said. “We aren’t being displaced. Because they are investing public dollars, they have to own the asset.
“There is some funding that we were unable to go after because the property had to be held publicly. The purchase has actually opened some doors for us.â€
Beyond the fundraising and completion of Phase 1, Stratford said his nonprofit will continue to seek out first-hand accounts and photos from people who spent time there, particularly during the decades that it served as an Elks Lodge for African American members.
“We want to make sure we have the opportunity to celebrate the unique cultural heritage of this building,†he said.
40+ new restaurants and bars ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ welcomed in 2021
Barrio Charro
The Barrio Santa Rosa, $9.95, from Barrio Charro features Don Guerra's pan levain bread with ripe avocado, pickled red onions, cotija and queso fresco cheeses and balsamic vinegar.Ìý
, 3699 N. Campbell Ave., was brought to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ by a "culinary marriage" between the minds behind El Charro Café and Barrio Bread.Ìý
Toast 101
, 4699 E. Speedway Blvd., is the place to go for familiar brunch options served in a trendy atmosphere.Ìý
Fun fact: co-owner when the singer competed in the popular NBC show in 2019.
Transit Tea
Tea lovers can visit the »å°ù¾±±¹±ð-³Ù³ó°ù³Ü,Ìý2645 E. Speedway Blvd., for a wide selection of drinks including tea sodas, tea lattes, chai teas and slushy-like "tea snows."
Bella's Gelato Shoppe
started as a local food truck but now has a stand-alone shop ²¹³ÙÌý2648 E. Speedway Blvd.
The menu of a dozen gelato and sorbet flavors, plus smoothies, coffee and floats, should cool down anyone in search of a summer treat.Ìý
Chicago Bar
A ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ favorite for decades, announced it would close permanently in 2020, but it reopened this April under new owner Yongsoo Seo.Ìý
Chicago Bar, 5954 E. Speedway Blvd., no longer has a restaurant, but Seo hopes to get food trucks on site for nights that feature live music.
Edna's Eatery
The patio area at Edna's Eatery features lots of natural shade trees and lush plants.Ìý
, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, was formerly Café Botánica inside the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Botanical Gardens.Ìý
The name may have changed, but visitors can still grab a drink and something for breakfast or lunch while enjoying the gardens.Ìý
El Mezquite Grill and Taqueria
The confit of pata de pato, or duck confit, $24, is paired with potatoes, plantains and bacon.Ìý
, 280 S. Church Ave., and its gourmet Mexican, Spanish and French dishes can be found downtown at the new DoubleTree Hilton next door to the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Convention Center.
Flora's Market Run
The Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sando at Flora’s Market Run includes apple and brussel slaw, a hot honey mustard and pickles.
, 2513 E. Sixth St., is part grocery store, part restaurant and features a sushi bar, produce from local ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ farmers, a cafe and a deli that will provide you the perfect cuts of meat to make an Instagram-worthy charcuterie board.Ìý
Taqueria La Esquina
View this post on Instagram
started out as a food truck but has since moved to a storefront ²¹³ÙÌý4876 S. Sixth Avenue, where a variety of tacos, Sonoran dogs and churros can be found.
A full bar is expected to be coming soon, but for now, beer is available for those looking to pair a drink with their Sonoran street food.Ìý
Santorini Greek Cafe
This cafe features all the Greek classics (no, not Homer's "The Iliad"): gyros, lamb skewers, tzatziki, dolmathes and mousakas, to name a few.Ìý
is at 2545 E. Speedway Blvd., a couple doors down from The Screamery ice cream shop.Ìý
Gallery of Food Bodega
, at 2522 E. Fort Lowell Road, had its grand opening this June, despite technically first opening back in October 2020.Ìý
This store, run by Kristine Jensen of the Gallery of Food catering company, sells locally-sourced products and offers grab-and-go meals, all of which can also be .Ìý
Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen
After its original location closed in 2011, has returned to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, this time at 2708 E. Fort Lowell Road.Ìý
The menu features popular Mexican dishes like quesadillas, chimichangas, tacos and desserts like flan and tres leches cake.Ìý
Snakes & Lattes
Short ribs, burgers and pozole are a few items on this cafe's menu, located ²¹³ÙÌý988 E. University Blvd. in Main Gate Square.
also offers cocktails, beer, and wine but what makes this Toronto-based chain special is the selection of more than 400 board games available to play while guests sip and eat.Ìý
The Barnyard Crafthouse & Eatery
The Barnyard Crafthouse & Eatery is located ²¹³ÙÌý.
's burgers, pizza, wings and other American staples can be enjoyed in its outdoor dining area or inside the restaurant that was formerly an actual barn house, located ²¹³ÙÌý11011 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Pops Hot Chicken
You may recognize as the popular ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ food truck, but now it has a new location at 600 N. Fourth Ave.
The new shop offers a larger menu, including brunch options like chicken biscuit sandwiches, and a bar.
Five-To-Oh! Coffee
View this post on Instagram
This small new coffee shop is right under the dome of the historic Pima County Courthouse ²¹³ÙÌý115 N. Church Ave.
, a play on southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s area code, serves hot and cold coffee drinks, teas and daily snacks like hummus and pita, muffins and croissants.Ìý
Fullylove's
shares a marijuana-friendly space with Arte Bella, a "puff-and-paint" studio, located at 340 N. Fourth Ave.Ìý
Burgers, wings and several desserts are a few of the offerings Fullylove's has for anyone with a case of the munchies.
Deliciocho
This is Deliciocho's signature raspado called La Vencindad, which includes every fruit at the shop including strawberry, mango, pineapple, melon, coconut and pecans.Ìý
, 6308 S. Nogales Highway, is one of the newest spots in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to grab some raspasados on a hot day.
The mom-and-son-owned shop also sells tacos, tortas, Mexican street corn and several desserts...churro ice cream sandwiches, anyone?
Zio Peppe
This new , ²¹³ÙÌý6502 E. Tanque Verde Road, incorporates ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Southwest flare into its pastas, pizzas and desserts.
Fun fact: Zio Peppe has an all-female pizza crew!
Sakari Sushi
, 2962 N. Campbell Avenue, is one of the newest spots in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ to grab your favorite sushi dish, whether that is an ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ roll or a Red Dragon roll.Ìý
This sushi restaurant also offers several kinds of lo mein, soup and fried rice if those are more your speed.
Dillinger Brewing Company
The former Coronado Hotel, future home of a Dillinger Brewing Company location, 402 E. Ninth St., on the corner of Fourth Avenue.
The former Coronado Hotel has become the 's second taproom in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, located right off Fourth Avenue ²¹³ÙÌý402 E. Ninth Street.
The beers, ciders, wine, cold brew coffee and kombucha offered here can be drank inside or on the patio of the new taproom.Ìý
Fun fact: There is an arcade game table inside the taproom where visitors can play classic games like Pac-Man.
Noodleholics
The Taiwan beef soup has fatty chunks of roast in a lighter beef broth with housemade wheat noodles.
' first shop opened on Grant Road back in 2018 and has since opened an Oro Valley location ²¹³ÙÌý7850 N. Oracle Rd.
The new Oro Valley spot has a larger kitchen and a patio dining area for noodle-lovers in the area who might not want to make the trek down to midtown.
Tuk Tuk Thai
Khao Soi chicken is a popular dish from Northern Thailand, with crispy egg noodles bathed in a rich coconut curry with chicken and pickled vegetables.
The Oro Valley Marketplace got a taste of Thai food in May when Tuk Tuk Thai opened its new location ²¹³ÙÌý12125 N. Oracle Road.Ìý
This new store features the same menu items as Tuk Tuk Thai's 2990 N. Campbell Ave. location, such as the Khao Soi coconut curry noodles, which ThisIsÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Andi Berlin said "are a must."
La Estrella Bakery
La Estrella Bakery is opening its third location at 901 N. Grande Ave. in the Barrio Hollywood neighborhood.
opens its third ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ location on July 31 ²¹³ÙÌý901 N. Grande Ave.Ìý
The Franco family, who opened their flagship bakery in the '80s, is putting this new location in Barrio Hollywood where their ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ roots began.Ìý
Transplant Pizza
Transplant, a Detroit-inspired pizzeria has opened next door to Craft, A Modern Drinkery taproom on East Speedway.
This new pizzeria "born in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, inspired by Detroit" at 4603 E. Speedway Blvd. comes from the minds of William and Travis Miller, the brothers behind ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Serial Grillers.Ìý
The duo opened the doors of this summer right next to Craft, A Modern Drinkery, a taproom which they also run.Ìý
Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink
Reilly's pizza oven is being seasoned in preparation for the opening of the newest Reilly Pizza on the northwest side.
You may be familiar with 's popular downtown location ²¹³ÙÌý101 E. Pennington Street, but now you have the chance to grab a pie and a cocktail up north.
Reilly's second location opened Aug. 1 on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s northwest side ²¹³ÙÌý7262 N. Oracle Road.
Salad and Go
has over 30 locations in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and now ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s first is open at 5501 E. Speedway Blvd.
Although the name says "salad," you can also grab breakfast burritos and seasonal soup there. Another ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ location is planned to open later this year at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Marketplace.
Buena Vida
This luchador-themed spot at 919 N. Stone Ave. had its grand opening at the end of August, which featured a car show and live wrestling.
's menu offers a variety of tortas, loaded "Lucha Fries," Sonoran dogs, and salads with a Mexican cuisine-inspired twist. They have indoor and patio seating and offer carry out as well.Ìý
Noble Hops
The popular Oro Valley gastropub, , opened up a new location this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way.
Noble Hops's new spot offers mostly the same menu items as the original location, in addition to craft beers and cocktails.Ìý
Perché No Italian Bistro
Krissy and Bruno Girardi plan to reopen the space that once housed Caffé Milano as Perché No, which means “why not?†in Italian. The Girardis say they fell in love with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ while on a cross-country road trip.
Meaning "why not?" in Italian, opened this fall in the former °ä²¹´Ú´ÚéÌýMilano space downtown ²¹³ÙÌý46 W. Congress St.
Some of the new Italian bistro's menu items include pesto ravioli, lamb lollipops, spaghetti puttanesca, and calamari fries.Ìý
Black Rock Coffee Bar
The new Black Rock Coffee Bar at 1821 E. Broadway will be the first of at least four ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ locations for the boutique coffee chain.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ recently welcomed a store ²¹³ÙÌý1821 E. Broadway Blvd., where customers can stop in or use the drive-thru to grab their favorite javas, teas, energy drinks, and smoothies.
This is the first of at least four locations the Portland-based company plans to open in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.Ìý
EspresSoul Cafe
This new coffee truck opened just in time for pumpkin spice latte season and you will most likely see it at various locations across ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
EspresSoul Cafe's honey lavender espresso, cookies and cream frappes, and fruit smoothies are some of the items available at the traveling cafe. To see where they will be stopped next, check out the
Bubbe’s Fine Bagels
Bubbe's Fine Bagels brings east-coast style bagels to the east side of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
If you have been looking for a locally-owned place to grab a bagel and schmear, look no further than ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s newly-opened ²¹³ÙÌý1101 N. Wilmot Road.
If you happen to come across the framed photo of Barbra Streisand inside the shop, make sure to say "Hello, gorgeous" before chowing down on a bagel sandwich.
Thunder Bacon Burger Co.
The Thunder Classic burger is two patties topped with bacon, American cheese, thunder sauce, lettuce and a pickle.
This new burger joint at 621 N. Fourth Ave. is the newest venture of Lindon "Lindy" Reilly, who founded Lindy's On 4th.Ìý
Several of 's burgers feature the flavors of the Southwest, specifically roasted green chiles and chorizo, and of course, they all have bacon.Ìý
Little Love Burger
The BarBQtie at Little Love Burger includes swiss and cheddar, bacon, tomato, arugula, pickled onion and barbecue sauce.
Downtown ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ welcomed another burger-centric restaurant this fall, this time ²¹³ÙÌý312 E. Congress St.
, brought to us by the minds behind Playground Bar & Lounge and Hub, opened in October in the former Diablo Burger location.
In addition to burgers, the menu here offers hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and a full breakfast menu.
8 Degrees Ice Cream and Cookies
If you get a sweet tooth while shopping at St. Phillip's Plaza or grabbing a drink in the center courtyard, is just a few steps away.Ìý
The new ice cream shop at 4320 N. Campbell Ave. gives you several options of ice cream flavors, toppings and cookies (including vegan-friendly ones) to design your own ice cream sandwich.
You can also choose one off the menu or buy cookie dough to bake at home.
Meyer Avenue Cafe
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opened Sept. 20, 2021 on the same property as the offers reimagined brunch staples, pastries, and an array of coffee and other beverages.Ìý
The attached Mercantile, 353 S. Meyer Ave., offers homemade goods and gifts, including beer and wine selections.Ìý
Wow Wow Lemonade Stand
Wow Wow Lemonade Stand started in Maui in 2012 and opened a stand this week at 7705 N. Oracle Road.
This Hawaii-based all-natural lemonade shop, which has a drive-thru, recently opened ²¹³ÙÌý7705 N. Oracle Road in Oro Valley.
Some of 's colorful lemonade flavors include strawberry mint, lava flow, and lavender blackberry. The menu also features health-conscious treats like smoothie bowls, avocado toast, and flatbread sandwiches.Ìý
The Jackrabbit Lounge
Kaitlyn Mills and Chris Vick line up a shot with the backgrounds, tripods and lights set-up in the Instragram hallway at The Jackrabbit.
This new retro-themed bar is bringing drinks, live music, drag-queen-hosted trivia nights, karaoke, and an Instagram-worthy atmosphere to 2000 N. Oracle Road.Ìý
Adult bourbon-infused milk shakes and Old Fashioneds can be found on , along with shareable dishes like cauliflower fritters, mac 'n' cheese, and spicy Korean-style meatballs.Ìý
Flaps and Racks/Acai Paradise
Jeffrey Flores, left, and Auxi Navarro at Flaps and Racks and Acai Paradise, 3253 E. Valencia Road.
Jeffrey Flores and his wife/business partner Auxi Navarro are bringing twin restaurants Flaps and Racks and Acai Paradise to 3253 E. Valencia Road.
will offer bone-in and boneless chicken wings and Korean-style barbeque ribs, while ²õ±ð°ù±¹±ð²õÌýhousemade oatmeal and acai bowls and fruit smoothies.Ìý
Ding Tea
View this post on Instagram
This Taiwanese tea house opened as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s first location in September ²¹³ÙÌý2739 E. Speedway Blvd.
Ding Tea offers trendy milk and boba teas, as well as fruity, flavored teas and slushies. Their full menu can be .
Fiesta Filipina
Thelma Ward, owner of Fiesta Filipina, talks with friend and longtime customer Beth Jacobsen while preparing Jacobsen's order.Ìý
Fiesta Filipina got its start as a food truck a few years back, but now has a spot inside the Park Place Mall food court, ²¹³ÙÌý5870 E. Broadway Blvd.
Filipino food can be hard to find in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, but offers some classic dishes like lumpia, pancit rice noodles, chicken and pork adobo, halo-halo and dinuguan, a pork blood stew.Ìý
Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe
Buendia’s poblano pepper is stuffed with a fresh green corn tamale.
Buendia Breakfast & Lunch Cafe opened two months ago ²¹³ÙÌý2530 N. First Ave., where the now-closed Asian Sofrito used to operate.
feature a range of burritos, huevos rancheros, nopales, tacos, soup, seafood, and vegetarian and vegan-friendly options.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch.
Contact reporter Gerald M. Gay at ggay@tucson.com
Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
Gerald M. Gay
Reporter
Reilly Pizza owner opening new restaurant in historic downtown warehouse
