The owners of a popular south-side sports bar who opened a restaurant in downtown Tucson last year are bringing three additional venues to downtown — including an indoor playground.
The Neighborhood Cocina and Cantina willÌý be moving into 61 E. Congress St. with street tacos and micheladas.
The Neighborhood Cocina and Cantina, 3940 E. 29th St., will be moving into 61 E. Congress St. with street tacos and micheladas.
Its owners, Daniel Cordova and German Fuentes, have also taken over the former Cafe Poca Cosa at 110 E. Pennington St., to remodel for their La Chingada restaurant, which will move in and offer expanded patio seating.
The current La Chingada location at 31 N. Scott Ave. will become a mariscos and oyster bar dubbed La Cruda.
Daniel Cordova and German Fuentes are bringing more eating options downtown, including La Cruda. The Rio Nuevo Board unanimously approved their request for $450,000 to help remodel three buildings. “I think you’re going to change downtown forever,†said the board’s chairman, Fletcher McCusker.
At 125 E. Congress St., they will open Antojitos, a raspados shop with an indoor playground to give families with young children a downtown destination.
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A pedestrian walks past The Screening Room and a vacant building, which will will be a new raspado shop called Antojitos, in downtown Tucson, Ariz. on Oct. 27th, 2021. Antojitos, a raspado shop with an indoor playground, will be moving into the vacant building, 125 E. Congress St., to the west of The Screening Room.
The duo appeared before the Rio Nuevo Board on Tuesday to ask for $450,000 in financial assistance to remodel the buildings, which are within the Rio Nuevo boundaries and benefit the district with sales taxes. They have already invested about $3 million in the downtown venture.
The board unanimously approved the request.
“This is a huge investment in our downtown,†said Fletcher McCusker, the board’s chairman. “I think you’re going to change downtown forever.â€
The projects are expected to be completed later this year or early next year.
Despite the pandemic, the owners opened their La Chingada restaurant downtown in December 2020 and have had wait times of over an hour to get a table.
Jazmin Vejar, right, talks with her husband, Benjamin Vejar, after finishing their meal at La Chingada, 31 N. Scott Ave., which will become a mariscos and oyster bar called La Cruda. La Chingada will move to the former site of Cafe Poca Cosa at 110 E. Pennington St.
“It’s a great atmosphere they’ve created,†McCusker said of the eatery with Sonora-style offerings.
The new La Chingada will also have a small convenience store with “Mexican munchies†Cordova said.
New Tucson restaurants and bars opened in summer 2021
Bella's Gelato Shoppe
started as a local food truck but now has a stand-alone shop atÌý2648 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
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 atÌý7850 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.
Maria Bonita Mexican Kitchen
After its original location closed in 2011, has returned to Tucson, 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
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 byÌýKristine Jensen of the Gallery of Food catering company,Ìýsells locally-sourced products and offers grab-and-go meals, all of which can also be .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 withÌý's popular downtown location atÌý101 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 Tucson's northwest side atÌý7262 N. Oracle Road.
La Estrella Bakery
La Estrella Bakery is opening its third location at 901 N. Grande Ave. in the Barrio Hollywood neighborhood.
opens its third Tucson location on July 31 atÌý901 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 Tucson 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 Tucson, inspired by Detroit" at 4603 E. Speedway Blvd. comes from the minds of William and Travis Miller, the brothers behind Tucson'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
Salad and Go
has over 30 locations in ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ and now Tucson'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 Tucson location is planned to open later this year at Tucson 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,Ìý, opened up a new location this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Reid Park,Ìý445 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
Investors team up to buy 50 Tucson ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ through crowdfunding platform
