Andre Newman working at Rincon Market. photo: Ariel Campbell
If any retail establishment could be said to exhibit the characteristics of "multiple personalities," it would definitely be Rincon Market, a venerable corner store at 2513 E. 6th Street, at Tucson Boulevard, in the heart of the historic Sam Hughes neighborhood.
Offerings include the salad bar and grill, extensive deli and coffee shop offerings, a bakery producing an impressive array of breads and pastries, produce, regular and kosher groceries, a fresh fish and meat counter, an extensive wine and beer selection and even a corner with imported furniture and accessories. It's decorated with local art and sports memorabilia.
A 24-hour time exposure would reveal a cross-section of Tucson's population, coming and going; shopping, dining in, taking out, chatting, using the free Wi-Fi or conducting business meetings. Here, a patron will never feel rushed, most sorts of human interaction are welcomed and the staff and customers alike are both ordinary and eclectic, all ages, an authentic sample of humanity.
That sample might include businessmen, young people, professorial types, ladies lunching, or some of Tucson's best thinkers hard at work solving the world's problems. The place unstintingly offers a "home away from home."
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, a group plays Celtic music in a sort of jam session setting; the first Wednesday of each month is dedicated to bluegrass. Other times, string players wander in and play violin and cello duets informally for tips.
Founded in 1926 by Jack Uvodic and originally located between Hawthorne and 3rd Street on Campbell Avenue, Rincon Market (nicknamed the Alley Cat Store at the time) has outlasted most other long-time businesses in town. It moved to its current location in 1967, where the grocery store it took over, Savory's, then became Rincon Market.
According to Ron Abbott, who bought it in 2007, it's had only three owners; Uvodic, the Cisek family (for 33 years) and himself. The building originally was divided into three or four small businesses, which were eventually bought out so the place could achieve its present configuration; the latest expansion is a banquet/meeting room added to the back of the building.
Open Monday-Friday 7am-9pm, Saturday 7am-8pm, Sunday 8am-8pm; find out more at RinconMarket.com or 327-6653.
