Chamber Chatter MAXIMIZE YOUR PROFITABILITY
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Frida and Weep An inferno of flavors Page 14
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
A CLOSER LOOK
Tucked-away cafe is worth checking out
A SYNOPSIS OF ARIZONA’S MARIJUANA LAW
Page 2 By Valerie Vinyard / Page 13
REAL ESTATE
RENT HIKES SPUR GENTRIFICATION Page 5 BOOK OF LISTS
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS DEFENSE CONTRACTORS
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FEATURES
New hires and promotions Page 3
Senior HomeCare owner honors late mother
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Chamber Chatter Engaging in the Political Process
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May 7, 2021
Volume 29• Number 10
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Nonprofit Perspective Education Acceleration Would your business benefit from lower energy and water costs? | Page 2
May 21, 2021
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TECH TALK
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Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered GoKarts and Martian
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BUSINESS SUPPORT
EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
| Page 6 in a virtual year Volcanoeslearning Pima JTED balances hands-on
Local First Arizona and YWCA
Page 8
LOCAL Gardnertheir Local venues are once again scheduling shows andJeff opening doors Inside Tucson Business / Page 4 STARTUPS
‘HOWL-ITOSIS’
TECH TALK
UA researchers study how to cure bad breath in dogs
Space bucks and robot surgeons
Margaret Regan Inside Tucson Business / Page 10
PEOPLE IN ACTION
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS
New promotions, hires and awards THIS YEAR’S Etherton Gallery to move locations after three decades NUMBERS Page 5 Page 3 Art Galleries
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PIVOT PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE
BOOK OF LISTS
Texas-based Builders FirstSource acquires Arizona building materials supplier for $400M | Page 4
BOOK OF LISTS
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THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS REAL ESTATE
New promotions, hires and awards Page 3
Page 10
VENUE GRANTS
Sen. Kelly tours Rialto, highlights aid program
UA researchers stops COVID reports
Page 6
Hospitals, hospice, and assisted living facilities
Pages 14 & 15
REAL ESTATE
Colleges, universities and optics companies
Page 15
Page 14 DEVELOPMENT
Sunawards Corridor releases post-COVID plan Tucson ranks among hottest rental markets in nation New promotions, hires and Page 10 Page 5 Page 3
PEOPLE IN ACTION
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
Understanding health care law changes
FEDERAL FUNDING
PANDEMIC RECOVERY
“PAST THE WORST OF IT”
COBRA SUBSIDY
Page 4
Page 13
Healthcare Heroes
Nurses look back on lessons learned during the past year Christina Duran Inside Tucson Business / Page 8
Photo courtesy UA / NASA
Galactic Maps and Cancer Treatments
Chamber Chatter
June 4, 2021
Plaza Liquors and Fine Wines Still in business after 43 years
ON THE MENU
Culinary Confluence
Zio Peppe fuses classic Italian with flavors of the Southwest
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LEGAL PERSPECTIVE BY THOM K. COPE
SPECIAL TO TUCSON LOCAL MEDIA
A synopsis of Arizona’s marijuana law
W
ell over 100,000 THC, the active ingreArizonans have dient in marijuana, but medical marijua- exhibits no symptoms of na cards. impairment. Cardholders range in Some companies give age from under 18 to over employees a pass in this 80 years old. However, the case because employees majority of cardholders are hard to find. This is are working in business entirely up to you, but today. Chances are that the key is that you must many of your employees be very consistent when applying this policy. have cards. What rights Remember, impairment does an employer have is a subjective process, when a cardholder tests because there is no numpositive for marijuana ber (like .08 for alcohol) in the workplace? What to indicate impairment. rights does an employer However, when it comes to have when a recreationrecreational use and drug al user tests positive and testing, you may terminate don’t have a card. any employee who tests Let us look at the last question first. Employers positive if you have a written policy to that effect. may have a legal right to As to employees with keep a drug-free workmedical marijuana cards, place and may have poliexcept in very specific cies that promote a drug free environment. There- circumstances, an employer may not terminate fore, you should have a written policy prohibiting or discriminate against an employee because that employees from being person has a medical marimpaired on the job. ijuana card. This policy should In fact, without evidence include a provision that employees may not ingest of impairment, employers may not terminate an emmarijuana on company ployee for testing positive or client premises. The for marijuana except in problem comes when an employee tests positive for limited situations.
Medical marijuana cards are issued if an individual has an illness or condition listed in the law: cancer, AIDS, HIV, glaucoma, hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn’s disease, or a “chronic or debilitating medical condition…” Chronic pain is the No. 1 reason listed by cardholders (approximately 81%). Furthermore, an employer may not ask job applicants if they have a card, as that is like asking them if they have a serious medical condition, which is clearly illegal to ask under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law does give an employer certain protections if they act in good faith. First, if the employer would lose a federal monetary benefit (i.e., federal contract, federal grant money, etc.), the employee’s medical marijuana protections do not apply. Second, an employee may not smoke, ingest or possess marijuana in the workplace or that of a client or customer. And finally, a cardholder may
Nonprofit Perspective It’s time for a renewed push for renewable energy
Page 2 June 18, 2021
Flora’s Market Crudo Bar elevates the raw food conversation Page 13
Chicano Por La Causa charter schools bring students across the finish line
COVID IMPACTS
UNEVEN RECOVERY
+ Speaking with the new CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Minority-owned businesses face unique challenges
Chamber Chatter
Christina Duran
Page 4
Lessons learned from three years at the helm
Inside Tucson Business / Page 6
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Volume 29• Number 13
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Chatter ChamberSmall Businesses,
Celebrating One Copper Cactus Trophy at a Time | Page 2
July 2, 2021
Chamber Chatter Tucson’s momentum to spur success in 2021
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Cyberinfrastructure, quantum sensing and pest eradication LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Pima County’s 2021 transportation projects
Nicole Ludden
Page 8 ROAD WORK
TECH TALK Austin
2020’s Top Columns: Whiskey, meat boxes and, of course, COVID
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Nonprofit Perspective Education Acceleration Would your business benefit from lower energy and water costs? | Page 2
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Would from your business lower benefi energy and watert | Page 2
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hires and
BOOK OF LISTS Inside Tucson Business / Page
TECH TALK
Engineering Solar-PoweredAwards, Karts and GoVolcanoes Martian
scheduling
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS shows and 10 and optics companies Colleges, universities
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opening
their
doors
LOCAL
IN ACTION
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awards
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An Outpouring of Optimism
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Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered GoKarts and Martian | Page 6 in a virtual year Volcanoeslearning Pima JTED balances hands-on
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Page 8
LOCAL doors Gardnertheir Inside Tucson Business / Page 4 STARTUPS opening Local venues are once again scheduling shows andJeff ‘HOWL-ITOSIS’ TECH TALK
UA researchers study how to cure bad breath in dogs
Space bucks and robot surgeons
Margaret Regan Inside Tucson Business / Page 10
LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
COBRA SUBSIDY
Page 4
Understanding health care law changes
Page 10
FEDERAL FUNDING
Page 13
VENUE GRANTS
Sen. Kelly tours Rialto, highlights aid program
Healthcare Heroes
PANDEMIC RECOVERY
“PAST THE WORST OF IT”
Nurses look back on lessons learned during the past year
UA researchers stops COVID reports
Page 6
PEOPLE IN ACTION
PIVOT PLAYBOOK REAL ESTATE
BOOK OF LISTS
Hospitals, hospice, and assisted living facilities
BOOK OF LISTS
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS
Colleges, universities and optics companies
Page 15 DEVELOPMENT
Plaza Liquors and Fine Wines
Page 5
THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Pages 14 & 15
REAL ESTATE
Page 14
post-COVID plan Tucson ranks among hottest rental markets in nation
BOOK OF LISTS
Texas-based Builders FirstSource acquires Arizona building materials supplier for $400M | Page 4
Page 8
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Corridor releases Sunawards New promotions, hires and Page 10 Page 3
REAL ESTATE
New promotions, hires and awards Page 3
PEOPLE IN ACTION
Etherton Gallery to move locations after three decades New promotions, hires and awards THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Page 5 Art Galleries Page 3
Christina Duran Inside Tucson Business / Page 8
PEOPLE IN ACTION
Still in business after 43 years
ON THE MENU
Culinary Confluence
Zio Peppe fuses classic Italian with flavors of the Southwest
Page 7
Photo courtesy UA / NASA
Galactic Maps and Cancer Treatments
Chamber Chatter
June 4, 2021
Page 6
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cure bad
FEDERAL
FUNDING VENUE
GRANTS Sen. Kelly program tours Rialto, highlights
Page
REAL ESTATE
Tucson Page ranks among 5 hottest
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aid
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rental
OF THIS LISTS
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| Page
UA researchers breath in dogs study how to
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Still in business after 43 years
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Plaza Liquors and Fine Wines
BOOK
Pages
PEOPLE
Understanding health care law changes
venuesPage 10 are once again
Regan
Etherton Gallery to move locations after three decades Page 5
10
NUMBERS OF LISTS living YEAR’S assisted THIS hospice, and
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Margaret
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OF IT”
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Hospitals, facilities 14 & 15
YEAR’S Art Galleries
Page
in nation
Culinary
Zio Peppe
fuses classic
14
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ON THE
MENU Confluence
Italian with flavors of the Southwest
Page
7
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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The region’s sales and leases Page 11
Commerical real estate brokers and management
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Touch Down
Arizona Sands Club reimagines UA stadium dining
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You could have this prime advertising spot!
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researchers
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UA 6 Page PEOPLE IN ACTION
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Photo courtesy UA / NASA
Galactic Maps and Cancer Treatments
2021
An Outpouring of Optimism BUSINESS SUPPORT
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the past
Financial trio donates to Gospel Rescue Mission
Officials ‘devastated’ as feds extend nonessential border travel ban
BOOK OF LISTS PEOPLE IN ACTION
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May 21,
Pima JTED balances hands-on learning in a virtual year
and bucksInside Tucson Business / Page 4 Jeff Gardner Space robot surgeons
during
acquires 4 FirstSource | Page Builders for $400M Texas-based supplier materials
REAL ESTATE
PUBLIC SERVICE
BORDER DIFFICULTIES
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STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIP
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Fourth Avenue restaurateurs see opening for opportunity
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Volume 29• Number 10
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June 4,
Commercial real estate thriving despite pandemic
Christina Duran
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A Smartphone COVID Test and Virtual Science Fairs May 7, 2021
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Highest Residential Real Estate TECHSale TALKin the Catalina Foothills in More than a Decade | Page 10
Chatter Workforce Chamber Local
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Local bars sue Pima County, saying they can’t survive COVID curfew
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not be impaired while working. The big problem for employers is determining whether or not the employee is impaired. As mentioned above, it is common knowledge that .08 is the standard for legal intoxication with alcohol. There is no similar standard for marijuana. The law helps employers with identifying subjective factors. So, if the employer can in good faith observe and document one or more of the following factors as being abnormal, it can conclude the person is impaired: • Speech • Walking • Standing • Physical dexterity • Agility • Coordination • Demeanor • I rrational or unusual behavior Further, the employer may take into account: appearance; clothing; odor; negligently operating machinery or equipment; involvement in a serious accident resulting in serious damage or injury; any symptoms or actions by an employee that causes reasonable suspicion of the use of drugs or alcohol. (ARS §23-493.) Another extremely successful strategy is to designate certain jobs as safety sensitive. Safety-sensitive positions include those employees whose jobs entail the handling of food or medicine; operating motor vehicles, equipment or machinery; repairing
or monitoring machinery or equipment; performing service in the premises of a residential or commercial customer. Therefore, if an employer wants to eliminate the card protection, they must revise the job descriptions and make the jobs safety sensitive. Generally, clerical staff persons are not in safety-sensitive jobs. It is important that employers do not over designate positions as safety sensitive when they are not. It is advised to follow the four requirements described above. The law protects an employer if it: acts in good faith pursuant to a legal drug test, even if they fail to test for a specific drug; have a good-faith belief the employee used or possessed drugs on work premises; and have a good-faith belief the employee was impaired during work or on the premises. We advise that the employer should have at least two managers confirm the fact that the employee is impaired, and have each clearly document what they saw, heard, smelled, etc. It is important to clearly document these factors. Over the next few years, it is expected there will be much more litigation in this area. Therefore, it is important to follow the law and have a general and medical marijuana policy in the employee handbook or procedures, and to document every situation. ITB
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Sierra Tucson names Carrie Foote COO
Carrie Foote
The outpatient addiction and mental health treatment center Sierra Tucson has named Carrie Foote its new chief operating officer. Foote previously worked as the director of enterprise privacy governance at the UofA, where she assisted the chief privacy officer in building the school’s privacy program. She began her career as a case manager in community mental health services, developing an acumen for leadership that eventually led her to become chief operating officer and chief compliance officer at a regional mental health organization. “I am thrilled to have Carrie Foote join our exceptional team at Sierra Tucson,” said Sierra Tucson CEO Dr. Valerie Kading. “Carrie brings a 20-year history of expertise in behavioral health systems development, implementing strategic initiatives and cross-departmental collaboration that will complement our already dynamic leadership team.” Foote also has significant experience in business development and expansion, contract procurement, HIPAA privacy compliance and professional development. She has managed teams including IT, finance, billing, compliance, facilities, medical, transportation, utilization management and medical records. “Carrie is passionate about helping others improve their lives and realize that recovery is possible,” Kading said. “We are extremely fortunate to have Carrie on our team and look forward to her positive impact on the residents and clients we serve each day.”
Laurie Lundeen ranks No. 1 for Coldwell Banker
Robert McManimon
Nic Misuraca
Jean Fitterer Lance
Robert McManimon has joined the Tucson office of Snell & Wilmer as an associate in the real estate practice group. McManimon earned his J.D. from Arizona State University, his B.A. in political science from the UofA, and an L.L.M. in international law from the University of Edinburgh. Snell & Wilmer’s clients include major national and multinational corporations, educational and research institutions, municipalities and government agencies, nonprofits, charitable organizations, industry executives and high-net-worth individuals.
Snell & Wilmer welcomed Nicolas Misuraca to its Tucson office as an associate in the product liability practice group. Misuraca handles criminal, consumer warranty and consumer fraud-based litigation. His work includes all aspects of the litigation process, such as motion practice, witness preparation, discovery, pretrial preparation and trial. Misuraca received his Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon and his Bachelor of Arts in political science and international relations from the University of Arizona.
Banner Health appointed Jean Fitterer Lance as executive vice president, chief legal officer and general counsel, replacing David Bixby who recently announced his retirement after helping lead the organization for nearly 25 years. Prior to her appointment, Lance was vice president of legal services and deputy general counsel at Banner. “In making this important decision, we realized that Jean was a natural choice after having worked closely with David for the last few years,’’ said Peter Fine, Banner Health chief executive officer. “Her extensive knowledge and impressive experience will make her a strong asset for our senior leadership team.’’ Lance joined Banner in February 2019, bringing more than 30 years of legal experience. Since joining Banner, she has been instrumental in supporting service line growth and relationships, working with Banner’s innovation and strategy teams on equity investments and acquiring cutting-edge platforms and providing guidance on pandemic-related issues.
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Laurie Lundeen, an affiliate agent with the Green Valley - Continental office of Coldwell Banker Realty Arizona, ranked No. 1 for Coldwell Banker Realty Arizona based on sides by individuals in the RealTrends + Tom Ferry’s 2022 The Thousand List. This ranking places Lundeen within “the top one-tenth of 1% of more than 1.4 million licensed Realtors nationwide,” per RealTrends. “This is another incredible accomplishment for Laurie among a very long list,” said Chris Jensen, president of the Southwest Region of Coldwell Banker Realty. “Laurie’s success is due to her consistent work and dedication to her clients.” Lundeen has consistently ranked No. 1 based on gross commission income among sales associates/representatives throughout Arizona in the Coldwell Banker system. In 2020, Lundeen ranked No. 1 in gross commission income and number of homes sold, awarding her among the Top 250 real estate agents in the United States, as announced in the 2020 REAL Trends “The Thousand” report published in The Wall Street Journal. She earned the Arizona Hall of Fame and International President’s Premier awards, the Top Producer in the State of Arizona Award for the seventh consecutive year, Top Producer for Southern Arizona Award for the 11th consecutive year and the Hall of Fame Award for the ninth consecutive year all from Coldwell Banker Realty.
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JULY 15, 2022
REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
EMAIL YOUR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS TO CHRISTINA@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM
Real estate transactions Share information with Inside Tucson Business’ land transactions column. Send items to christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com. Staff Report
Principal and retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant in this transaction. Isaac Figueroa and Melissa Lal with Larsen Baker represented the landlord.
Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction.
Center LLC an additional 1,161 square feet, for a total of 3,483 square feet of Sales industrial space, in EastTucson Drexel Equities H Squared AZ LLC leased side Research Commerce LLC purchased 4.04 acres 1,400 square feet of indus- Center, 1646 S. Research of vacant land, a portion of trial space at Town Central Loop, Suites 130, 140 Block 3 of Tucson Airport and 150, in Tucson. Ron Business Park, 5045 E. Commerce Center, located 29th Street in Tucson, from Zimmerman, principal, in Tres Pueblos Plaza, 5375 Arizona Solar Solutions Pegasus Tucson Owner and industrial specialist S. Tucson Boulevard in Inc., dba Suntria, leased LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, Tucson. The retail proposed 3,300 square feet of inprincipal, and Andrew parcel was purchased from dustrial space at Ruthrauff Keim, industrial specialists TucDrex LLC for $1.26 Commerce Center, 2450 with Cushman & Wakefield million. Aaron LaPrise and W. Ruthrauff Road, Suite | PICOR, represented the Dave Hammack, principals; 110 in Tucson, from Pegasus landlord in this transaction. and Andy Seleznov, CCIM, Tucson Owner LLC. Paul with Cushman & Wakefield Hooker, SIOR, principal, Rachas Inc. renewed its | PICOR, represented the and Andrew Keim, induslease with Pegasus Tucson seller in this transaction. trial specialists with CushOwner LLC for 1,200 By Tom Leyde Carson John Klepinger, man & Wakefield | PICOR, square feet of industrial Tucson Local Media with Glenwood Real Estate represented the landlord in space at Commerce Plaza, Services LLC, represented this transaction. 245 S. Plumer Avenue, the buyer. Suite 24, in Tucson. Paul Anytime Fitness renewed Hooker, SIOR, principal, The Tucson-area real Paleteria Y Neveria La its lease with Sunrise Village Andrew Keim, and Molly estate market has slowed Michoacana LLC, purchased Investors LLC for 3,002 Mary Gilbert with Cushdown this year because of 1,836 square feet of office square feet of retail space in man & Wakefield | PICOR, the rise in interest rates. space at 302 W. Ajo Way Sunrise Village Shopping represented the landlord in But it is continuing to in Tucson, from Richard Center, 4784 E. Sunrise the transaction. thrive despite higher rates & Rosemary Gomez for Drive in Tucson. Dave and an increase in home $375,000. Agents with Hammack, principal, and G&K’s Entryways LLC prices, market observers Cushman & Wakefield | retail specialist with Cushleased 1,200 square feet of say. PICOR handled this trans- man & Wakefield | PICOR, industrial space at ComJodi Koch, president of action. Molly Mary Gilbert represented the landlord in merce Plaza, 245 S. Plumer the Tucson Association of represented the seller, and this transaction. Avenue, Suite 20, in TucRealtors, said higher interCintya Denisse Angulo Garson, from Pegasus Tucson est rates limits the number cia represented the buyer. Owner LLC. Paul HookIntech Aviation Services of homebuyers. However, er, SIOR, principal, and LLC renewed its lease with she said, high-end houses Lease Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC Andrew Keim, industrial continue to receive great Salad & Go leased for 1,505 square feet of specialists with Cushman & offers. 30,000 square feet of industrial space at MidWakefield | PICOR, repre“We are seeing homes retail space at Speedway point Business Plaza, 3925 sented the landlord in this stay on the market a little & Pantano Square, 7980 E. 29th Street, Suite 402 transaction. bit longer, and we’re even E. Speedway Boulevard in in Tucson. Paul Hooker, seeing some home price Tucson, from Speedway SIOR, principal, Andrew Timberlake Crafts LLC reductions,” Koch said. Pantano Square LLC. Dave Keim, and Molly Mary expanded its lease and space Realtor.com reports that Hammack, requirements with Eastside Tucson is still ranked as one Gilbert with Cushman &
with Cushman & Wakefield ing, 1661 N. Swan Road, | PICOR, represented the Suite 244, in Tucson. Ryan landlord in this transaction. McGregor and Thomas J. Nieman, office specialists Southwest Behavioral with Cushman & Wakefield Health Consultants PLLC | PICOR, represented the leased 925 square feet of landlord in this transaction. office space from DHS Mark Hays, with Tierra Property Investments LLLP, Antigua Realty, represented located in The Smart Build- the tenant. ITB
Tucson-area real estate market is thriving of the top hottest real estate markets this year. Volume is expected to grow by14.2%, while home prices are expected to increase by 8%. Jeff Rohde, an author in the area of real estate, finance, investment and general business sectors, wrote an article on the Tucson-area real estate market in June. Among his findings were: • The median price of a single family Tucson home has increased 17.9% year over year. • The current median price is $385,000, the Tucson Associate of Realtors reports. • Home inventory is low and many first-time homebuyers are opting to rent. • Homes are selling for 101% of the listing price, with new homes seeing an increase of 3.5% year after year.
• Number of days on the market has increased to 17, compared to 13 at this time last year. • The supply of single-family home inventory is one month, compared to 0.8 months at this time last year. • Rita Ranch, Civano and Flowing Wells are among the most popular neighborhoods in Tucson. • Sam Hughes is the most expensive with a median home listing price of $597,500. The most affordable neighborhood is Julia Keen. Homes there have a median listing price of $220,000. The cost of renting is up as well, Rohde’s report found. The median price for a single-family home is $1,895 (in May). That’s an
HOUSING MARKET CONTINUES ON PAGE 5
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JULY 15, 2022
Rent hikes, Downtown boom spur gentrification of older neighborhoods By Brenda Muñoz Murguia Cronkite News
Eighteen months ago, Ariel Enriquez found space for his five children at Park Place Condominiums in north Tucson. Soon after they moved in, the rent went up $200, to $1,700. With his struggle to pay the increase, the single father fell behind and was charged late fees, pushing his rent over $1,800. The family was evicted in April. Enriquez, who’s an inde-
HOUSING MARKET
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increase of 4.4% over last year. And 4.7% of households are occupied by renters, according to Zumper, a rental service. With the fed’s rate increase, 30-year home loans are averaging about 5.6%, as of July 6. That’s a big jump from rates averaging 3% or above during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an example of what that means for a homebuyer, Koch offered this: Last year, if you bought a home for $400,000 at an interest rate of 3%, your payment would be $1,686 for principle and interest. This year, with the same house is listed at $480,000 and an interest rate of 5.75%, payments will be $2,786 a month. Koch, who has worked in real estate for 23 years, said cash buyers from out of state continue to move to the Tucson area, which drives up home prices even more.
pendent contractor, gathered his five boys and moved to a rundown apartment owned by a family member on Tucson’s south side, almost 14 miles away from the Park Place condominiums. A three-bedroom, two-bath unit at Park Place like the one Enriquez rented now goes for $1,800 a month, a $300 increase in less than two years. “I’ve been in apartments that have gone up $70 or $80, maybe even $100 for a nice place. This one went up by $200,” Enriquez said. “I remember looking at apart-
ments that were going for $700, $800 not even three years ago, and now they’re $1,300. Why in the world has the price gone up so much? It makes no sense.” Rents are going up all over Arizona, as they are across the country, but Tucson, once considered sleepy and affordable, has seen a particularly painful spike. The median rent in Tucson in June was $1,795, up 30% from June 2021, according to Zillow data as of publication. And with rents rising, gentrification is pushing people out
Tucson’s real estate market remains a seller’s market for homes in certain price ranges, Koch said. But sellers, in general, are not going to be receiving 20 offers and are probably going to have to reduce their price. Buyers, Koch points out, are seeing more opportunities to purchase a home this year. “Last year at this time we only could show a buyer one house every few days,” Koch said. “Today, if a buyer calls me, I might have 10 homes to show him. Good ones priced right and in great condition are going to sell. Others are staying on the market.” Building permits issued by the city of Tucson increased in May of this year compared to last year: 831 compared to 741. The number of permits issued for new single-family homes rose a bit, from 73 to 85. Home building is still suffering from supply chain issues, Koch said. A new
home build formerly averaged six to eight months and is now averaging one year to complete. Pima County continues to have a home shortage, Koch said. “I hope builders will continue and find a way to build homes in a price range for essential workers, otherwise we will lose them.” Such homes, she said, need to be in the $250,000 to $350,000 range. “That is the range we’re lacking. We really need more of that,” she said. What will the Tucson real estate market look like in 2023. Koch said that depends on what the fed does with interest rates. “I would like to see it say below 6 and settle at 5.5. That would give it stability,” she said. As for home buyers and sellers, Koch recommends vetting a Realtor well. “It’s one of their biggest investment in their life and to trust someone they haven’t vetted is just crazy to me,” she said. ITB
of neighborhoods that once were affordable. “It’s been happening for a few years now. That’s when we saw the most people moving out of their neighborhoods,” said Betty Villegas, executive director of the South Tucson Housing Authority. “And we saw it over and over again, people were priced out of natural occurring rentals. And the rents, you know, were starting to rise,” she added, referring to the usual supply of affordable housing in older neighbor-
hoods. The redevelopment and push for upscale housing has put particular pressure on west Tucson and Downtown. Older neighborhoods that traditionally were lower income and predominantly Hispanic are transitioning to market-rate housing, pressured by new developments in nearby areas, with apartments renting for as much as $3,000 a month. Residents of Armory Park, Menlo Park, the city of South Tucson and other communities are struggling to afford to
live in neighborhoods where their families had settled decades ago. Menlo Park is a good example. The area is home to mostly older, fixed-income Mexican Americans who settled there after World War II, said Raul Ramirez, vice president of the Menlo Park Neighborhood Association. But now the neighborhood has become a target for developers. Interest especially in-
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(Tom Leyde/Contributor)
Roofers work on a new Meritage home in a development off Sandario Road in Marana on June 29.
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(Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)
(Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)
David Bachman-Williams, president of Armory Park Neighborhood Association, says rent increases caused his daughter to look for a home outside the neighborhood south of downtown.
Gloria Jean Ramirez, who lives in Menlo Park, says new residents complain about the culture and ceremonies of the Hispanic communities that are established in Tucson barrios. RENT
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creased after the SunLink Streetcar was completed in 2014. Menlo Park is on the streetcar’s last two stops, effectively connecting the neighborhood to downtown Tucson and the sprawling campus of the UofA. Students and young professionals have begun to move in, and the median rent there as of publication was up $689 over the past year, according to Zillow. “Now they’re converting some of those apartments to market, the current market rate, so everything is super expensive,” Ramirez said. “And the people that are really being impacted then are folks that are renting.” With a shortage of housing inventory, more developers want to build near Downtown and take advantage of Tuc-
son’s Government Property Lease Excise Tax, or GPLET, a tool that gives the city authority to grant incentives to build in particular areas. The city’s 10-year-old GPLET program subsidizes property taxes for up to eight years for projects in the Central Business District. GPLET has “been used to bring new life to outdated, poorly maintained properties that were hotspots for crime, and now contribute to the economic growth of Tucson,” according to the Office of Economic Initiatives of Tucson. Tucson has entered into 24 GPLET agreements, with some completed projects, including The Herbert, which converted an apartment complex for older people into luxury, market-rate housing. The Armory Park conversion was one of the city’s earliest GPLET projects, completed
in 2013. Under the plan, the elderly residents were moved to another facility on the south side of Congress Street, which is downtown’s main drag. One of the more recent GPLET projects is Union on 6th, an apartment complex only a couple of blocks west of UofA. Union on 6th is leasing for fall, with studios starting at $1,315 a month and two bedrooms as much as $2,480, well above the median rent in Tucson. Amenities include a movie theater, pool and a clubhouse for residents. But some worry that the projects are fueling the gentrification of old neighborhoods. “Given all those incentives, you would think that they would be in a prime position to subsidize some low-in-
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come housing, but they don’t, it’s all market rate.” Ramirez said. Kevin Burke, economic initiatives deputy director for Tucson, wouldn’t say whether GPLET projects are contributing to gentrification. “The question was posed to the city, we have the folks come to the city and say, ‘These GPLET projects are causing gentrification,’ and we’re not going to sit there and say yes or no to that,” Burke said. But he cited a 2021 study by Gary Pivo, a UofA professor who studies sustainable cities and responsible property investing, on the equity and sustainability of the GPLET project in Tucson. Pivo’s study found that GPLET projects were not
JULY 15, 2022
the cause of gentrification, mainly because they constitute a small part of downtown development. However, it also said the GPLET program could do more to help people and businesses being displaced. Although the share of the Hispanic and Latinx population in the Central Business District, which encompasses most of downtown, fell by only 0.4% from 2012 to 2018, the years Pivo studied, the report said the decline was more significant in the traditionally Latino neighborhoods surrounding the district, including Barrio Viejo, Santa Rosa, Barrio Hollywood and parts of Menlo Park. The report also said traditional mom-and-pop
7
(Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)
RENT Raul Ramirez, vice president of the Menlo Park Neighborhood Association, discusses construction projects around Tucson. Social workers say gentrification has hidden effects and stresses on families. People who stay have to put up with construction headaches.
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(Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)
Raul Ramirez’s collection of anti-gentrification literature in Tucson. In Menlo Park, the median rent has gone up $850 in the past year, according to Zillow.
businesses are doing worse in the Central Business District than in other parts of the city or Pima County, probably from losing longtime customers displaced by higher rents. The report said GPLET should look for opportunities to create affordable housing for people who earn less than $35,000 a year. For example, larger housing projects could provide some number of affordable units, and work with local affordable housing developers. Since 2010, the Pima County Community Land Trust has provided homes to 111 low to moderate income families by remodeling or constructing on land purchased with money from donations and funding from Tucson and the county. “Investors come in and are looking for these older neighborhoods … and the
danger is it’s displacing people,” said Maggie Amado-Tellez, executive director of the trust. “Because right now, everyone, regardless of gentrification, everybody is in a financial bind – that
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(Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)
Raul Ramirez shows mock-ups that will become posters for the Menlo Park Neighborhood Association’s fight against gentrification. Menlo Park is home to mostly older, fixed-income Mexican Americans who settled there after World War II. (Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)
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tion has hidden effects and stresses on families. People who stay have to put up with construction headaches. “You have a lot of dust in the air going on, you have a lot of metals being cut, gases from the equipment that are being used to move the space
and form the space into what it’s going to be,” Gutierrez said. “The city doesn’t think about ‘How are we going to protect the citizens around that?’ What are the policies in place to protect the citizens from those toxic fumes?” People who leave lose their communities and have to travel farther for work, school and groceries, she added. “We don’t think about
displacement and the health effects of this work. And so while we can use gentrification as a buzzword, we need to dig deeper because it’s not just about gentrification,” Gutierrez said. Since Enriquez’s family moved to the south side at the end of April, his five sons have been drastically affected. They will have to switch schools starting the next school year.
(Genesis Alvarado/Cronkite News)
Raul and Gloria Jean Ramirez, who live in the Menlo Park neighborhood west of downtown Tucson, are photographed next to their altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Raul Ramirez, Menlo Park Neighborhood Association vice president, shows literature that residents of San Antonio are using to fight gentrification and displacement in their city. In the meantime, the boys continued attending the same school, adding 30 minutes to their morning routine. And the spike in gas prices hasn’t been kind to Enriquez for the longer commute. The new apartment’s air-conditioning is broken, the windows are old and it’s not insulated, making it hot inside during the day. Enriquez said his kids have been coughing a lot since moving in because of the dust, and no amount of cleaning has improved the situation. “I’ve been extremely busy trying to make the best of our situation,” Enriquez said. “The boys miss the much more comfortable apartment we were in and hate the abrupt move.” The COVID-19 pandemic also has significantly affected renters in Tucson, especially working-class people and people of color, said Zaira
Livier of the Tucson Tenants Union. Although the city introduced assistance programs for people who were affected by rent increases and displacement during the pandemic, she said, it’s difficult to get any actual help from these programs. “We speak to folks all the time who are waiting on these things, and while they’re waiting on it, they’re still getting evicted,” Livier said. “Or they get their rent paid and the landlord still evicts them because that stuff doesn’t come with any strings attached for the landlord.” The Tucson Tenants Union, along with Jobs for Justice Arizona and Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, organized a protest earlier this year against Monterey Garden Apartments for raising rents and pricing tenants out of their apartments. The majority of the tenants were
low-income or under Section 8 housing, which uses government vouchers to help pay for private housing. Jesse Maison, a customer service representative who works from home, moved into the Villas de la Montaña apartments, near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson’s east side, in July 2021. His one-bedroom apartment rented for $700 a month, Maison said, but since then, the complex has done repairs and renovations. For the remodeled units, rent rose $400 a month. He’s paying the $1,100 for now but eventually will have to move out. He can’t afford it. ITB Cronkite News reporter Melissa Estrada contributed to this report. For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
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FEATURES
Bittersweet Effort Senior HomeCare owner honors mom by taking care of others By Laura Latzko
Independent Home Care Alliance. When Gillette founded the business, it was important to align with reputable national caregiving organizations because ethics are important to her. Gillette will often share information with families about available resources, such as government programs that provide assistance for equipment or supplies. The company works with clients in different living situations, including those who reside in their own
Tucson Local Media
Caregiving is personal for Tina Gillette of Senior HomeCare of Tucson. She was schooled in hospice when her mother was visited by a nurse twice weekly. Still, the caregiving largely fell on Gillette and her sister. She had two small children at the time, but with the help of her husband and his family she could care for her mom. It was challenging but rewarding at the same time because she could sit with her mother. She parlayed her knowledge into Senior HomeCare of Tucson 10 years ago after working as a medical transcriber, an office manager for a sports medicine clinic and an admin for an orthopedic surgeon. Caregivers provide a range of services, including assisting with bathing, showering or visiting the restroom; going to doctors’ appointments or the store; taking care of skin or oral needs; housekeeping; preparing meals and caring for pets. They also provide respite breaks for family members caring for their loved ones. The level of care needed can range from 12 hours a week to 24 hours a day. “It has been an honor to serve people in the proper
(Tina Gillette/Submitted)
Tina Gillette, above, parlayed her knowledge from caring for her mother into Senior HomeCare of Tucson, which offers a variety of services to the elderly. fashion and to be able to provide trained caregivers that always want to do their best for the agency,” Gillette says. Based in Oro Valley, Senior HomeCare of Tucson serves Tucson, Sun City Oro Valley, Marana, Casas Adobes, Catalina, Dove Mountain, SaddleBrooke, the Catalina Foothills, Rancho Vistoso and Sabino Canyon. “This is a business that started in a 10-by-10 room in my home,” she says. “It’s woman-owned and has been for 10 years. I grew it from the ground up, with no help from a franchise.”
Three years ago, the company was a finalist in the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona’s Torch Awards. In 2018, they were named Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year and were honored as one of the finalists in the outstanding senior care/hospice category at the Influential Health and Medical Leaders Awards. Gillette is a member of two national organizations that provide guidelines for caregiving businesses, the Homecare Association of America and the
homes or in independent, assisted-living or hospice facilities. Many senior clients have family members who live out of the area. Gillette says in this type of situation, it is important to keep their families informed on their care. “We pride ourselves on communication with the families,” she says. “We are in constant communication with family members. We send notes for them on the clients.” Gillette learned firsthand the mental, emo-
tional and physical toll of caregiving and the need for self-care. “You have to make sure you receive adequate rest and relief from others, otherwise you will not be able to give your all to that person,” Gillette says. Being there for her mother during her last few months was meaningful for Gillette. She says, while this stage is often emotional, it is an important to celebrate their lives and
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accomplishments. Gillette says this can be a time for families to share and have heart-to-heart talks with each other. “Your words may be their last, so always express what you feel,” Gillette advised. Within her company, Gillette ensures that her caregivers feel involved and invested in clients’ care. Caregivers have expressed that they like the family-like feel of working for a more personal, locally owned business, she said. “We really do place our employees’ needs first. The respect from the caregivers has been everything. It’s important to me that the caregivers feel valued, respected, wanted, all of the above,” Gillette said.
Gillette stressed the importance of choosing caregivers. It is important to inquire about the caregivers: if they’re employees or contractors; if they’re drug and background tested; if they’re fingerprinted and have been trained. In her company, caregivers are trained in helping clients with daily activities and providing special care for hospice or disabled patients. Gillette engages her caregivers in different ways, including doing games and drawings each week. She said it is important to create a collaborative team environment, especially because her employees work remotely. “Personality is absolutely crucial to the health of our seniors when you bring
(Senior HomeCare of Tucson/Submitted)
Senior HomeCare of Tucson makes caregivers feel involved and invested in clients’ care.
News and features for Tucson and Southern Arizona’s business and legal communities
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somebody in,” Gillette said. “You have to make sure that their personalities match up, that they are pleasant to be around.” Gillette has found that many caregivers develop special relationships with longtime clients — aiding them with organizing their closets; playing their favorite games and sometimes bringing them their favorite drinks or treats. “Every single day, I’m amazed at my caregivers. We have a dashboard-style communication system at the office,” Gillette said. “Oftentimes, I will read that and see the things that these caregivers do. Sometimes it’s hourly that I see a nice gesture, that someone has gone over and above what the core responsibilities are. That’s been amazing to witness.” ITB
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CHAMBER CHATTER
BY MICHAEL GUYMON, CEO TUCSON METRO CHAMBER AND MITCH PISIK, CEO PISIK CONSULTING GROUP
Maximize your profitability by brilliantly running your business
I
that the customers cannot imaging buying from anyone but you. You are letting your customers down if you let them buy from anyone else. You owe it to them to convince them that you are the best.
f you consider your business too successful, your employees too inspired, and your wealth too great, this article is not for you. If, though, you have not exceeded all your professional and financial aspirations, keep reading. The key to running a world-class business is to be relentless in focusing on what needs to be the top priorities — passion, people, product and pricing.
Pricing
Passion
What is your Passion? Purpose? Plan? Nobody is going to work harder nor risk more at assuring your business is a success than you. Accordingly, you must love what you do, fully embrace your challenges, and celebrate your successes with abandon. If you want to spend your day with enthusiastic, talented, and happy employees, customers, and vendors then enthusiastically accept the opportunity to lead by example for all your stakeholders. Be confident, not arrogant. Nobody wants to do business work with someone who’s arrogant. And nobody wants to do business with someone who’s not confident. Leadership requires authenticity. You must be yourself — but be your best self. Be a genuine, and genuinely confident leader.
(Pisik Consulting/Submitted)
Mitch Pisik has conducted business in more than three dozen countries.
People
It is imperative to master the four distinct aspects of building a winning team — attract, hire, inspire, and retain world class employees. And never settle. After all, “A” players hire “A” players, “B” players hire “C” players, and “C” players will put you out of business. Great and passionate leadership has the potential to excite and inspire people to achieve the extraordinary. If you want your employees to enthusiastically perform and stay, they need
to believe that you believe that they are important to you. If you want to get on the radar of the best potential employees, then you better become the employer of choice. When interviewing, be interested and interesting. The first step in inspiring employees is to hire inspiration-able employees. People will follow a leader, a winner, someone they trust, and they trust has a great plan.
Product
Present your product in such a compelling manner
The primary purpose of a business is to stay in business. Accordingly, you want to charge as much as you can while simultaneously growing sales and customers. People aren’t moved by logic. They’re moved by emotion. Facts tell — stories sell. It’s about the sizzle and the steak. Never forget that most buyers buy on value, not solely, or even predominantly, on price despite how they portray their priorities during negotiations. How specifically are you meeting your clients’ needs better than everybody else?
In conclusion
Your key strategic ob-
passionate about making Tucson a better place to create, develop, and grow business and commerce.
jective is to be the default vendor of choice so that you are always the first one, and ideally the only one, your clients consider calling when they’re ready to buy. Here at the Tucson Metro Chamber, we are passionate about being the voice of business for our community. Our strategic plan and Workforce Development Blueprint specify how we will work to strengthen our business environment. We have the right people to help businesses make valuable connections, to advocate in support of issues that result in the growth of business, and to lead on efforts that increase our region’s economic vitality. We have a product that 1,400 businesses throughout the region have invested in and benefited from; and, in addition to that, our pricing is attractive and advantageous to companies large and small. Just as you are passionate about what you do, we are
Mitch Pisik, chief executive officer of the Pisik Consulting Group, is an award-winning business consultant, executive coach, and leadership trainer who has worked with more than 1,000 executives in hundreds of companies in dozens of industries — from sole entrepreneurs to Fortune 100 global businesses. As CEO, he has turned around and substantially grown four diverse businesses over 15 years; and previously was a senior executive at several of the world’s largest global companies for 17 years. He has conducted business in more than three dozen countries. He is an active board member of numerous public, private and not-forprofit organizations. Contact Mitch at 631-943-5275 or mitch@pisik.consulting. com ITB
Nonprofit Perspective It’s time for a renewed push for renewable energy
Page 2 June 18, 2021
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TECH TALK
Virtual retail and blood cell innovation By Alexandra Pere Tucson Local Media
W
ith a major research university right in our backyard, a strong military presence and innovative companies throughout the metro region, there’s often a plethora of interesting science, medical and technology news to be found in Southern Arizona. Here’s a breakdown of the most interesting recent developments.
Virtual reality in retail
The University of Arizona John and Doris Norton
School of Family and Consumer Sciences was gifted $5 million from Terry and Tina Lundgren to support students in business and retail. Part of this contribution will be used to design a lab for retail learning technology. The lab will be equipped with the latest in virtual reality technology like eye-tracking and heat-sensing software. It will also be equipped with cameras and display hardware to simulate retail scenarios for students. “People often dismiss the importance of retailing, until retail is disrupted,” said Laura Scaramella, head of the UA John and Doris Norton School of Fam-
ily and Consumer Sciences, in a statement. “Think about what happened during the COVID-19 pandemic; what other industry turned so quickly, on a dime, to meet the needs of consumers?” The pandemic hit the retail industry like a ton of bricks, leading most businesses to consider online retail spaces. The industry needed to pivot fast, and the most innovative business leaders came out on top during the pandemic. Scaramella said in a UA statement that laboratory spaces shouldn’t only be reserved for STEM students; retail students should use technology to innovate in their field.
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The lab will also be used by researchers in retail and marketing to study consumer behaviors at the intersection of technology and perception. This lab will be crucial for the UA to increase scientific innovation for the Consumer Sciences School. One aspect of the retail experience that is expected to increase since the pandemic is the contactless point-of-sale system. This type of technology allows customers to walk out of a store and get billed automatically instead of touching self-checkout machines or going through a normal checkout process. “To me, the question is: Are consumers going to adopt something like this? How do we educate consumers about how contactless point of sale works and help consumers overcome their hesitancy to walk out of a store without having physically paid for something or checked out?” said Lance Erickson, a consumer
psychologist and associate professor of practice in the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences said in a statement.
Kim creates copycat cells
Minkyu Kim, a UofA assistant professor of biomedical engineering and of materials science and engineering, recently received a $600,000 award from the National Science Foundation to mimic red blood cells in a lab. Kim wants to imitate red blood cells to improve doctors’ abilities to create more targeted treatments and drugs tailored to specific patients. Working with red blood cells for drug delivery was inspired by Kim’s love for the red blood cells’ structure. Red blood cells are perfectly tailored to human blood vessels, making them a good option for getting past the body’s natural filtration system. Conventional drugs have to pass through this filtration system but red blood
cell delivery methods could deliver drugs more effectively.
Spaceflight upgrade
Paragon Space Development Corporation’s Humidity Control SubAssembly (HCS) was successfully tested and operated on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test-2. The Starliner docked at the International Space Station before returning to Earth on May 25. It has been 60 years since the standardized humidity control technology was updated. “Our team is excited that the HCS system passed its debut flight to the ISS and will support the transport of humans back and forth for years to come,” said Paragon’s President and CEO Grant Anderson in a press release. The HCS system provides necessary life support for astronauts and Paragon’s system will be featured on future spaceflight missions. ITB
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ON THE MENU
Frida and Weep
Tucked-away café is worth checking out Valerie Vinyard
adorned with a brightly colored tablecloth, adding splashes of reds, yellows, greens and purples. rida’s Café is hard to Frida’s is owned by Berber find, but it’s worth and Maria Medina, the the hunt. former owner of Taco Giro Located in the shadow restaurants in Tucson. of Chuze Fitness near the Berber, 47, is experienced southeast corner of Grant in baking pastries, as he Road and Craycroft Boule- opened Le Buzz Cafe on East vard, the charming café Tanque Verde Road years opened December 20. ago. He plans to start baking It’s named in honor of pastries at Frida’s soon. famed Mexican artist Frida “We have a clean and fun Kahlo. The restaurant’s environment,” Berber said. artwork reflects that, with “We don’t have preservaprints on the walls by Kahlo tives; it’s all fresh ingredias well as her self-portrait. ents. Everything is prepared The well-lit, 900-square- fresh to order.” foot dining room can seat Take the Diego Rivera 67 inside. An outdoor sandwich ($11.75), named covered patio has four tables after Kahlo’s husband. The for now, but Executive Chef sandwich came with roasted Antonio Berber said they’re poblanos, grilled chicken planning to make improve- breast that had been pounded ments to the patio. thin, tomatoes, avocado and Inside, each table is provolone cheese. I substiSpecial to Tucson Local Media
F
tuted ciabatta for the corn jalapeno bread. The sandwich was juicy and full of flavor. Sandwiches come with a choice of salad, fries, soup or fresh fruit. With the Diego Rivera, we chose a cup of savory housemade chicken posole as our side. The least-expensive sandwich, the all-traditional breakfast sandwich ($4.99), still sounded great: It contains thinly sliced honey ham, two scrambled eggs and sharp cheddar on ciabatta bread. The menu features 13 breakfast entrees ($4.99 to $11.99) and a dozen brunch/lunch entrees ($8.99 to $12.99). Berber isn’t a fan of greasy food, and he said Frida’s kitchen staff avoids using fryers. But what’s most important, he said, is that the recipes remain authentic. “There are no variations
Submitted
Chilaquiles.
Submitted
Southwestern burger. on the recipes from Mexico,” said Berber, who started cooking at age 9 with his mom who owned restaurants in Michoacan, Mexico. “We didn’t want to Americanize anything.” El Gordito Diego ($12.25) came on a brioche bun. The 1/3-pound black Angus patty was topped with bacon, cheddar, fire-roasted jalapenos, spring mix, tomato and french fries. There was a great contrast between the roasted jalapenos and the well-seasoned meat. The peppers added a slight kick that made the burger stand out. The BLT ($8.99) was piled high with lettuce and tomatoes, along with avocado, bacon, mayo, roasted jalapenos and served on corn jalapeno bread. Piled high with plenty of ingredients, this sandwich will be sure to satisfy a lunchtime hunger. The bacon was crisp and delicious, and the bread added an interesting flavor
profile to a classic meal. A generous portion of fries rounded out the dish. James Session, a retired engineer who lives nearby, recently dined at Frida’s with his wife, Mary. “My wife went there with her friends and said it was good, so we started going, too,” he said. “I’ve had an omelet, which was good, but I prefer the lunch items.” Session enjoyed the Friday special — a smashed avocado tartine ($7.99). A slice of sourdough was slathered with avocado, pieces of bacon, bits of jalapeno and a poached egg. A “shot” of fresh-squeezed orange juice garnished with a strawberry accompanied the dish. It looked so delicious we had to order one, too. The tartine stood out with its variety of textures and flavors. All the ingredients made it a nutritionally complete meal, and its price makes it something we’ll seek out every Friday.
Even though it’s only open for breakfast and lunch, Frida’s offers beer ($2.99 to $3.99), mimosas ($8.99) and margaritas ($7.99 to $9.99) for sale. As for nonalcoholic drinks, there’s a large selection of sodas and even five milk varieties ($2.99) — soy, almond, 2%, skim and whole. Berber said the duo is looking to add another location, possibly on the Northwest side. But for now, they’re happy with the way things are going. “Our customers like the presentation of the dishes; they like the pictures we have,” Berber says. “They have a really good experience with our servers.” ITB
Frida’s Café 5526 E. Grant Road 520-367-4711 fridascafe.net 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
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JULY 15, 2022
An Inferno of Flavors
Diners can explore all things delicious at Dante’s Fire Valerie Vinyard
The kitchen is helmed by the boyish-looking 45-yearold Foy, who owns Dante’s with partners Mat Cable and When Dante’s Fire opened Nick Heddings. in May 2013, the restauDante’s menu features rant catered to late-night ingredients that are difficult diners who wanted eclectic, — at best — to find at other artfully prepared food; craft restaurants in town. cocktails; and a well-chosen The new menu, which dewine and beer list. buted June 17, still is divided “We wanted a restaurant into fun categories. Starters that took care of the lateare called “Limbo — On the night diner,” said owner Lighter Side,” where guests and executive chef Ken Foy, will find chilled cucumber noting that the restaurant and brie soup ($15). It’s enstill provides a 20% dishanced with a fried crayfish, count on food after 11 p.m. tomato oil and preserved to customers who work in tomatoes. the service industry. The pan-seared foie “Originally the concept gras ($19) is a decadent, was small plates, sharables. melt-in-your-mouth dish. Everything was less than A generous chunk of foie $14.” gras is served with Oregon Nine years later, Dante’s cherries, kirsch, orange Fire continues that lateconserve, French toast and night focus, but the menu pear. has evolved into fewer small Though some of Dante’s plates yet has managed to ingredients are, shall we keep its flair. say, a bit haughtier than
Special to Tucson Local Media
most late-night places, that doesn’t translate to a stuffy atmosphere. “The fact that you can have foie gras in flip-flops at 1:30 in the morning,” Foy said. “You can’t get that anywhere.” Under “Anger — with a Little Spice,” diners will find Thai curry shrimp ($26). The entrée has been offered since the restaurant opened and features six shrimp in a Thai curry coconut sauce with tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, jasmine rice and candied orange. “Our uniqueness is what we do best,” Foy said. Under “Greed — Richer, of Course,” there’s pappardelle diablo ($28), another dish that has been offered from the start. The handcut fresh pasta comes with lump crab, chorizo, tomatoes, roasted red pepper and Parmesan and is tossed with a vodka Cajun cream sauce.
(Noelle Haro Gomez/Contributor)
Saffron shrimp is garlic roasted shrimp, squid ink linguine, sauce pomodoro and Parmesan foam.
“Atonement — Be Satisfied” features a beef Wellington deconstructed ($29), which comes with truffled mashed potatoes, pastry, mushroom duxelles, bordelaise and béarnaise sauce. As if Dante’s menu wasn’t enough, a couple of ghost kitchens are in operation at the restaurant. There’s the Sexy Grilled Cheese and Salad Company, which was created shortly after the pandemic shut down traditional restaurants, and it continues at the restaurant. This concept is available at 11 a.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, and it closes the same time as Dante’s. “During the pandemic, we had to get really casual, really fast,” Foy said. Sexy Grilled Cheese and Salad Company offers an assortment of five salads ($10-$14), nine grilled cheese sandwiches ($9-$14), five 16-ounce macaroni and cheese bowls ($9-$24), and a build-your-own grilled cheese (starting at $6). Soups ($9-$14) and fries ($5) round out the menu. “They’re fun stuff,” Foy said. “This is not grandpa’s grilled cheese.” Standouts include the obvious Sexy Grilled Cheese ($12), with cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, shaved Spanish chorizo and red onion jam on a toasted pretzel bread with Cajun garlic fries, and the lobster mac and cheese ($24), which is a classic mac with Maine lobster chunks and herbs. Specials also abound at
(Noelle Haro Gomez/Contributor)
Ken Foy owns and is executive chef of Dante’s Fire. Dante’s. Tuesdays feature half-price burgers, Wednesdays offer taco plates, Thursdays are half-priced bottles of wine, and Sundays feature all-day happy hour. Happy hour is 4 to 6 p.m. daily. Discounts include $1.50 off draft beers, $1 off bottled beer, $2 off wine by the glass, and $1 off signature cocktails. Food specials include a menu that features seven items for $7 each. Before it transformed into Dante’s Fire, the 3,052-square-foot space previously housed Nonie and Rio Cafe. Today, Dante’s is surrounded on both sides of Grant Road by a handful of other restaurants, including Postino, Snooze an A.M. Eatery, Culinary Dropout and LemonShark Poke. Jeannie Snyder, a 27-year-old bartender at a nearby restaurant, enjoys the variety of Grant Road restaurants. She says she especially appreciates Tucson
restaurants like Dante’s Fire that stay open late. “Since the pandemic, most restaurants close early or at the latest by 9,” Snyder said. “If you don’t want to settle for Denny’s or IHOP, Dante’s is a great option.” She’s a fan of the Stolen Burger ($17), which comes with wild mushrooms, muenster cheese and garlic herb mayonnaise. “It has a lot of great toppings and is a great price for what you get,” she said. “I like the combination of unusual stuff and more traditional foods that Dante’s has. It caters to any mood you’re in.” ITB
Dante’s Fire
2526 E. Grant Road 520-382-9255 dantesfireaz.com 4 to 10 p.m. Sundays to Wednesdays; 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays to Saturdays
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Defense Contractors Rank Business 2022 Address 2021
Phone Company Email Website
1
AGM Container Controls, Inc. 3526 E. Ft. Lowell Rd. Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 881-2130 sales@agmcontainer.com www.agmcontainer.com
2
Hart Scientific Consulting International LLC 2002 N. Forbes Blvd #102 Tucson, AZ 85745
2 4
Total $ Amt. of Active Contracts for 2021
Total No of Products / Services Contracts in 2021
Parent Company Headquarters
Top Local Executives
Year Establ. Locally
Manufacturer of enviromental control hardware for containers that carry Tucson missiles, breather valves, desiccators, humidity plugs and indicators, shock indicators, tie downs, tie down shelving
Howard N. Stewart
1970
17,251,000
1,904
(520) 314-8544 customerservice@hartsci.com www.hartsci.com
2,000,000
N/A
Adaptive Optics Systems, Image enhancement software
Tucson, Arizona
Michael Hart Stephen Warner
2008
Kirsh Manufacturing, Inc. 801 E. 46th St. Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 792-4122 kirsh@kirshmanufacturing.com www.kirshmanufacturing.com
2,000,000
N/A
Precision machined parts
Tucson
Tim Kirsh
1998
Tucson Embedded Systems, Inc. 5620 N. Kolb Rd., Ste. 160 Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 575-7283 business@tucsonembedded.com tucsonembedded.com
10
12
Mission and safety critical electronic systems design, engineering, testing, certification and final product assembly
Tucson
Dennis Kenman Antonio Procopio
1997
Ranked by the total dollar amount of active contracts awarded 2021 Ranked information is provided by business representatives at no charge and is ranked alphabetically in case of ties. Other businesses were contacted but either declined or did not respond by deadline. There is no charge to be included in Inside Tucson Business listings. N/A=not provided WND=would not disclose NL=not listed last year NR=listed last year but ranking criteria not provided
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