I love to eat and shop local as often as possible. I love listening to local music, and being part of the local scene whenever possible. I used to love the variety of locally owned bookstores Tucson once had. What I love about local business is they have personality. Local businesses to me are the very vein of a city.

Local business is unlike chain stores where they all carry the same things and they all look alike. There is zero personality with chains. I see more and more local businesses in Tucson disappearing and it leaves a social and economic void. That is why Tucson Biz beat is so important to me to write. It is because we are failing to look at the local businesses and artists. No one thinks about it but small businesses contribute to local economies. They do so by bringing growth and innovation, personality so to speak. In addition, these small businesses help stimulate economic growth by providing employment opportunities to people who may not be employable.

Who knew that a popular photographer, Jade Beall, could take images of nursing, pregnant or plump women and turn it into masterpieces and that Cafe 54 employees people recovering from mental illness? Who knew that Create Cafe has some of the best live acoustic music in town free or that Mosaic Cafe offers a great Mexican breakfast or that Stephanie Nelson is one of the best acupuncturists in Tucson? We overlook our local businesses and people that make Tucson the eclectic place that it really is. So today, Tucson Biz beats attempts to look at some of the great businesses over the past year.

Free Acoustic Music

Create Cafe  http://www.createcafe.com/

Arizona Ranch Haven www.azranchhaven.com

Best Variety of Live Music

Boondocks Lounge http://www.boondockslounge.com/

Best local Radio Station

KXCI http://www.kxci.org/

Musician that Does Charity for Tucson

LeeAnne Savage https://www.facebook.com/LeeAnneSavageFans

Best Female Blues Guitarist

Mitzi Cowell http://www.mitzicowell.com/

Best Pancakes

Franks  http://www.franksrestaurant.com/

Mexican Breakfast

Teresa’s Mosaic Cafe http://www.mosaiccafes.com

Unique Mexican Food

Little Poca Cosa http://www.littlepocacosa.com/

Non-profit Cafe

Cafe Cafe 54 http://www.cafe54.org/

Great local Pizza and Environmentalist   

Brooklyn Pizza Company http://www.brooklynpizzacompany.com/

Best burger and Fries TIE!

Hotrods Old Vail http://www.hotrodsoldvail.com/
Lindys on 4th Best tatter tots as well!  http://www.lo4th.com/

Best Italian Bakery

Viros http://www.virosbakery.com/

Best Special Interest Photography

Jade Beall http://jadebeall.com/photography-2/

Best Wellness Center

3861 WellnessFirst  http://3861wellnessfirst.com/

Best Acupuncture

Stephanie Nelson Lion Acupuncture http://lionacupuncture.com/

Best Taekwondo

Victory Taekwondo South  http://www.victorytkdsouth.com/

Best Pho Soup and Milk Tea

Miss Saigon http://misssaigon-tucson.com/

Best Small Market

Time Market http://timemarket.lbu.com/

Best Gelato

Allegro http://gelatoallegro.com/

Best Online Newspaper

Tucson Citizen http://tucsoncitizen.com/

 

 

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