Shopping
The best thing about shopping in Tucson is exploring the hundreds of small shops that carry items uniquely Southwestern. And most folks who visit here or live here are looking for just that—things Western, Mexican, cowboy, or American Indian. In this chapter we emphasize the gifts, clothes, food, art, and home furnishings that people want to see and buy when they come to Tucson.
We also have malls, and we do have major department stores that are every bit as complete as those in cities of the East and West Coasts.
If you’re not quite sure what “Southwestern” or regional specialty items are, here are a few tips. Chiles are big (as in popular) here and come in all forms and shapes, from the many varieties of fresh ones ready to be added to a recipe to the dried ones hanging on strings, known as ristras. Hanging a ristra on your door is said to bring good luck. Local shops carry Native art from many nations: Zuni fetishes, O’odham baskets, Hopi kachina dolls, and Navajo textiles. The truly local Native art is primarily O’odham baskets and Pascua Yaqui masks.
Popular items from south of the border include mesquite furniture, characterized by thick natural wood and intricate carvings, Talavera pottery, stoneware, iron and tin ornaments, wool rugs, and colorful blankets. Much of the food considered regional has its origins in Mexico as well, such as tortillas and salsas. Tucson also has some food specialties that grow locally, including pecans, pistachios, mesquite honey, citrus fruits, and sweets made from cacti.
With this briefing on regional specialties, you’re ready to put on your walking shoes and explore the shopping scene in Tucson.
1. Bahti Indian Arts
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 577-0290
Address: 4330 N. Campbell Ave., Ste. 73
Description: This store on the north side of charming St. Philip’s Plaza offers fine Indian arts and crafts. You’ll find rugs, pots, sand paintings, weavings, kachinas, fetishes, sculpture, and baskets by contemporary Southwest Indian artists. The shop also has books, tapes, and CDs on and by Native Americans.
2. Desert Rain Gallery
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 383-4966
Description: This tiny gallery on the Tohono O’odham Nation is operated by the nonprofit organization Tohono O’odham Community Action. Exquisite baskets hand-woven by members of the basket cooperative, books about Tohono O’odham culture, traditional-music CDs, locally made jewelry and pottery, and traditional O’odham foods and ribbon dresses are available here. Closed Sat and Sun; call ahead for hours.
3. Desert Son
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 299-0818
Address: 4759 E. Sunrise Dr.
Description: This shop specializes in Southwest Indian items such as art, pottery, vases, kachinas, Navajo rugs, sand paintings, and jewelry. Desert Son is closed on Sun.
4. Gallery West
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 529-7002
Address: 6420 N. Campbell Ave.
Description: Serious collectors will appreciate the museum-quality antique Native American art here, including rugs, weavings, baskets, pottery, and beadwork. Gallery West is closed on Sun (and Mon during summer).
5. Grey Dog Trading Company
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 881-6888
Address: 2970 N. Swan Rd.
Description: You’ll find Grey Dog in the lovely Plaza Palomino, along with its selection of Hopi kachinas, Pueblo pottery, Zuni fetishes, Navajo weavings, jewelry, baskets, and sand paintings. The store is closed on Sun.
6. Mac’S Indian Jewelry
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 327-3306
Address: 2400 E. Grant Rd.
Description: This shop boasts a large selection of well-priced Native American jewelry but also has kachinas, pottery, rugs, carvings, and sand paintings. It’s closed on Sun.
7. Morning Star Traders
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 881-2112
Address: 2020 E. Speedway Blvd.
Description: Morning Star Traders offers baskets, pottery, Navajo rugs, kachinas, and a large selection of old and new jewelry in a charming Spanish Colonial Revival building. Closed Sun.
8. San Xavier Mission Shops
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Address: 1959 E. San Xavier Rd.
Description: While visiting the historic San Xavier Mission, you’ll have a chance to shop for items pertaining to the mission in the on-site gift shop as well as specialty shops located in the plaza across from the mission that carry items such as pottery, art, and baskets representing Southwest Indians, particularly the Tohono O’odham, on whose reservation the mission resides.
9. Turquoise Skies
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 578-1673
Address: 4410 S. Mission Rd.
Description: It’s a bit off the beaten path and seems forlorn all by itself, but Turquoise Skies is across the street from 2 huge adult RV and mobile home communities. The store sells items by Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni Indians and over 35 other tribes, including rugs, jewelry, baskets, and kachinas. It’s closed Sun and Mon.
10. Aj’S Fine Foods
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 232-6340
Address: 2805 E. Skyline Dr.
Insider Pick:
Description: You’ll find lots of terrific gourmet fare here along with a sushi bar, cafe, wine cellar, and boulangerie. Prepared foods to go include super salads all made in-house, pastas, pizzas, and more. It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for. The produce section is a work of art. Open daily.
11. Alejandro’S Tortilla Factory
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 889-2279
Address: 5330 S. 12th Ave.
Description: The retail part of this wholesale operation offers customers not only tortillas but also bagged spices and prepared foods such as tacos, tortas, and pastries. They also serve burritos with a variety of fillings, including chorizo. Menudo is available daily.
12. Caravan Middle Eastern Market
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 323-6808
Address: 28217 N. Country Club Rd.
Description: This store stocks Middle Easter ingredients of all kinds: Egyptian rice, Israeli couscous, coffees, teas, nuts, canned foods, frozen meats, delicious pastries, and some of the best olives in town. Open daily.
13. El Rio Bakery
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 624-4996
Address: 901 N. Grande Ave.
Description: Located in a heavily Hispanic area west of downtown and I-10, El Rio has great Mexican baked goods plus some traditional ones. Here you’ll find pan de huevo (egg bread), empanadas, pan dulce, cochinitos (gingerbread pigs, a favorite), delicious Mexican cookies, and tortillas. El Rio also has some prepared take-out food such as burritos with machaca and beans, plus a small selection of grocery items.
14. European Market & Deli
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 512-0206
Address: 4500 E. Speedway Blvd.
Description: Folks hungry for items from Russia and other Eastern European countries always find a treat here. The market carries 30 kinds of sausage in addition to vodka, dried fish, canned goods, bakery items, and a variety of candies and chocolates. Lunch and dinner are served all day, too.
15. 5Th Street Deli And Market
City: Tucson, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (520) 325-3354
Address: 5071 E. 5th St.
Description: This is the only kosher deli and butcher in town, offering fresh meats along with a variety of other market items, including bagels, of course. The deli offers smoked fish, fresh salads, knish, sandwiches, corned beef, and pastrami, among other items. It’s closed Sun and on Jewish holidays.