New local business offers more than drinks as it hopes to build community

For residents on Tucson’s Eastside, a new gathering place near Broadway Boulevard and Camino Seco is preparing to offer more than a place to buy a drink. Apothecurious, a tap and bottle room at 8554 E. Broadway Blvd., is being developed as a welcoming space where neighbors can meet, explore unfamiliar beverages and build connections. Owners Anissa Guzman and her husband say the business is intended to fill a gap in an area where they believe there are not many spaces with a similar focus.

Apothecurious is the couple’s first small business. The idea began while they were living on the East Coast, where they started imagining an apothecary inspired by Guzman’s health care background. After moving to Tucson a few years ago, they began viewing the concept through the experience of newcomers looking for ways to feel connected to their new home. Guzman said visiting different places helped them meet people and, in a sense, provided a healing experience as they adjusted to the area.

That community centered purpose is reflected in the business name and design. A mural greets customers when they enter, inspired by the public art found throughout Tucson. Guzman said the couple admires the murals downtown and in other parts of the city, and wanted to bring some of that visual character to their Eastside location. The mural is part of an effort to make the room feel distinctive and connected to Tucson rather than simply functioning as another place to purchase beverages.

The menu is expected to include a broad selection for different tastes and preferences. Offerings will include nitro drinks on tap, kombucha, hard seltzer, hard cider and beer, with options ranging from light lagers to fruited sour beers. Customers will also be able to choose gluten free drinks and mocktails. Light hors d’oeuvres are planned as well, giving visitors something to enjoy alongside their beverages without making the business a full service restaurant.

Guzman said the larger goal is to create an engaging environment where people can meet new friends, sample something they have not tried before and learn from one another. That could make Apothecurious appealing to customers who drink alcohol as well as those seeking nonalcoholic options. The owners want the space to support casual socializing and discovery, while also encouraging people to share what they appreciate about Tucson and the local community.

Getting to the opening has required the couple to learn the many practical details involved in starting a business. Guzman said that watching another business open does not reveal all of the work happening behind the scenes. The process has included numerous small complications and lessons, some positive and some difficult. To navigate those challenges, the Guzmans turned to local support, including Startup Tucson, a nonprofit that offers programs, mentorship and community resources for entrepreneurs.

Startup Tucson’s resources are available to people at different stages of building a business. Its Find Your Starting Point page helps aspiring owners identify programs and assistance, whether they are still shaping an idea or are ready to expand an existing operation. For the Guzmans, that kind of guidance was part of the broader community support that helped move Apothecurious from an idea developed on the East Coast to a physical business on Tucson’s Eastside.

The business planned a soft opening for the weekend of Nov. 13, with a limited menu, followed by a grand opening planned for the weekend of Dec. 4. Hours were still being finalized, but the owners were initially testing a schedule of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. Friday and Saturday hours were expected to continue until 11 p.m., while Sunday service was planned to end at 8 p.m. The Guzmans said they would watch customer response before deciding whether to change the closing times.

For the couple, opening Apothecurious is also a way to give back to the city they now call home. They say they love Tucson and hope the business helps people connect with one another while highlighting the city’s many positive qualities. Whether visitors stop in for kombucha, a local style beer, a mocktail or simply conversation, the owners want the room to become a place where Eastside residents feel comfortable meeting, trying new things and taking part in the community.