New Businesses
Mary’s Downtown Flower Market
In the downtown core, Mary Ramos is filling a romantic niche that makes it convenient to let your loved one know you care! Located in the lobby of the Pioneer Building at 100 N. Stone Ave., Mary’s market offers a variety of single fresh cut flowers, bouquets, wines, gift baskets, plants, balloons, snacks and unique greeting cards created by local artist Jennifer Millard-Rice.
In order to open shop, Ramos said she quit her job to “follow my passion, not my paycheck.
“I’ve been doing flowers for over ten years, starting in high school,” Ramos said. “I always did flowers out of my home for quinceneras, events, etc.”
It is obvious that flowers are Ramos’ passion when her eyes light up as she evaluates her aromatic goods, while detailing her downtown delivery service and the fact she offers a wire service for national flower delivery.
Ramos opened shop on March 2 after purchasing the space from previous tenant Rachel Yaseen of Rachel’s Market. Yaseen co-owns The Monkey Box with husband Bill Mackey and said she sold Rachel’s in order to focus on the restaurant.
Mary’s Downtown Flower Market is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached by calling 882-4477 or emailing marysdowntown@aol.com.
Casa Vicente – Restaurante Español
Spanish native and proprietor Vicente Sanchez acknowledges his location at 375 S. Stone Ave. (and 14th Street) hasn’t had the best track record for restaurants maintaining any kind of longevity. The building has housed Italian fare, vegetarian cuisine and, in its last role, southern barbeque.
The difference with Casa Vicente could lie in Sanchez’s vision for the large space that features lots of outdoor seating, and spacious indoor dining that includes a stage in its western room.
As the president of Club España (www.cetucson.org) and his involvement with the Tucson-Segovia Sister Cities Association (www.SegoviaTucson.org), Sanchez foresees the restaurant as also “a nice cultural center. I think there is a chance we can make something happen here. We would like to have light performances, a Spanish literature club and one major event per week.”
The goal for the cuisine, Sanchez said, is to come as “close as I can to traditional food from Spain, but I will adjust some things.”
The SW Planning architect said both his parents and grandparents had restaurants in Spain.
“I was born into it. I ran from the business as far as I could, and now I fall into it,” he said with a smile.
Opened since the second week of April, Casa Vicente currently serves lunch Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with plans to dish dinner once they receive their liquor license – which Sanchez said he hopes will happen by the second week in May.
Menu specialties include tapas and paella and the full selection is available for viewing online at www.CasaVicente.com. Call 884-5253 for more information.
New Owner for Simply Convenient
Simply Convenient’s founder Harold McCadden handed over the reins last month after two years of being the only convenience store in the downtown core.
With a heartfelt email, McCadden explained how family events required his full-time attention but was pleased to relate that the new owner, Joe Brescia, was also a personal friend of his.
“A couple of months ago, Harold asked me if I knew anyone who would want to buy the store,” Brescia explained. “I looked at it and thought I’d give it a shot.”
For the last 12 years, Brescia worked in real estate, but for 22 years prior he was in food service.
“I thought it (Simply Convenient) was a good business. I had been looking into getting back into food service and felt confident I could take this over since it’s a going business.”
The store, located at 25 N. Stone Ave., is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., reachable via phone at 792-3171, and the daily lunch specials can be emailed to you by signing up at www.SimplyConvenient.com.
Development News
Beowulf Alley
Last June, Beowulf Alley Theatre Company signed a six-year lease with the Gibson’s, moving into and renovating the old Johnny Gibson’s Gym Equipment located at 11 S. 6th Ave.
At the time, their projected opening date was the end of last year, but the date was pushed back to this month after running into problems with the architectural plans.
Managing Director/Producer Amy Almquist explains: “The word construction I believe means ‘delay.’ Just when you think you have a final date for opening, a problem arises. One day it might be the sewer line, another, there are challenges in the power design. For us to completely redo a building that was not wired or plumbed for a large capacity audience and bring in additional power to support our lighting and sound system - there were bound to be delays. Nobody seems to be able to give a definitive date. We started guessing when they would be done and as you can tell, we were wrong. We’ve stopped guessing until we felt we were close -- which we are.”
The company plans a summer “mini-season,” wherein the three summer productions are “designed to be previews for the six-show season in the fall and spring,” said Artistic Director Stephen Elton.
The summer season is tentatively scheduled for a late May opening. Call 622-4460 or visit www.BeowulfAlley.org for up-to-date information.
The Academy Lofts
Last January, The Academy Lofts, LLC purchased the historic building that used to house the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart Convent and the St. Joseph’s Academy at 35 E. 15th St. Last month renovation began on the structure that was built in 1886, the handiwork of French stonemason, Jules le Flein.
The structure is one of the largest still surviving from the late 1800’s and Steve Fenton, president of Fenton Investment Company and managing partner of The Academy Lofts, LLC, said the outside will be restored to its original character.
The interior, including the dormitory that was added in 1956, will be remodeled into a total of 36 lofts. Each will have a new kitchen and bathroom as well as new electrical, heating and cooling systems. Other planned amenities include gardens, an observation deck, and an exercise facility. See the website at www.AcademyLofts.com for further details.
Old El Paso and Southwestern Railway Depot
At the end of March, a sign on the door of 419 W. Congress St. informed patrons of Garcia’s that they had terminated their lease and were closing their only Tucson locale.
According to Eric Hutchens of Financial Associates, Inc., which owns the 1912-era depot property, Garcia’s parent company had sold the chain and the new owners “thought it would be easier to operate just the Phoenix locations.”
Financial Associates, Inc. handles the leasing of the building and Hutchens said the organization feels confident they will find another restaurant to move in.
In Theatre News…
Broadway in Tucson Announces (11 1/2 Week) Season
As Broadway in Tucson concludes its inaugural season in early May with “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Nederlander Presentations has announced that the series will expand from the four weeks of shows in the Old Pueblo this year to a total of 11 weeks of Tucson productions in 2005-2006. Highlighted by 5 weeks of “The Lion King”, Broadway in Tucson will commence its 2005-2006 season in September with “Little Women.”
The company is also expanding the five-production season with special events that include Jerry Seinfeld’s stand-up comedy on May 20.
The 2005-2006 roster includes “Annie” in October; “Evita” in January; “Dr. Dolittle” in March; “The Lion King” in August and September. Special season events are “Dora’s Pirate Adventure” in July; “Linda Eder: The Holiday Concert” in December; “Riverdance” in February and March; “Les Misérables” in May.
According to Tucson Convention Center Director Rich Singer, Broadway in Tucson will draw around 160,000 theatre-goers to the 92 show-dates.
Log on at www.BroadwayinTucson.com for information on show dates and tickets or call 903-2929.
Arizona Theatre Company
The state’s leading professional theatre enters its 39th season in 2005-2006 and ATC recently announced its six-show line-up.
- The world premiere adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” by director Jon Jory runs through September.
- The Arizona premiere of Teresa Rebeck’s “Bad Dates,” a one-woman play detailing the adventures of the 40-something dating scene, runs in October and November.
- “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” is a biographical musical celebrating the country icon’s roots and legacy, with performances November through December.
- Based on the book of photographs and stories by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry “Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats,” the play “Crowns” is a showcase of the soul, faith and spirited style of African-American women that takes the stage January through February.
- Steven Dietz’s “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” is a world premiere based on the original 1899 play by William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle with shows running in March.
Find further information online at www.ArizonaTheatre.org or by calling 884-8210.
Cinema La Placita
Though the dog days bring on searing temps, it is the welcome relief of eve that makes life tolerable for the townies.
Filling in the gap of lackluster summertime activities is Cinema La Placita, which is entering its 6th season this month, kicking off on May 12 with a showing of “Charade,” starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant.
Erika O’Dowd, who still runs the event, initiated the outdoor film series.
“I started Cinema La Placita in 2000 as an event to draw people downtown. I used to go see outdoor movies in Bryant Park in New York City, and it was really fun.”
At the time, O’Dowd was the Marketing Manager for La Placita Village, 110 S. Church Ave., and had “received funding from the City of Tucson, a program called the ‘Downtown Projects Grant’ that doesn’t exist anymore. Since then, we’ve raised money from audience donations and contributions from businesses and individuals.”
The flicks are projected every Thursday for six months and commence around 7:30 p.m., or when the sun’s fiery orb has waned. Though free, a $3 donation is appreciated.
Reference the events page for the rest of May’s movie schedule.
Economic Development Agency Staying Downtown
Tucson’s new regional economic development agency, TREO–short for Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities–has chosen to locate in Downtown Tucson. The agency, a new entity formed by Pima County and the City of Tucson to better coordinate the region’s diverse economic development efforts, will occupy 12,000 square feet of office space on the second floor of the Compass Bank building at 120 N. Stone Ave. beginning July 1, when TREO officially begins.
“We wanted to be Downtown–it’s where the action is”, said Tom Moulton, the Economic Development and Tourism Director for Pima County, who says that his new title with TREO hasn’t been determined yet. Moulton said that 2005-2006 will be a transition year, as TREO will begin operations and determine how existing agencies, such as the Greater Tucson Economic Council (GTEC), will integrate into the new structure.
GTEC has leased space at the Bank of America Plaza at 33 N. Stone Ave., and many of the existing county, city, and private agencies that will be part of TREO have been located in Downtown. Moulton indicated that TREO may require more office space, depending on how the consolidation of multiple agencies unfolds over the next year or so.
