image: Repp Design + Construction
"Sparkroot is a concept that I have been mulching in my mind for years," says Ari Shapiro of his latest Downtown venture, set to open in early August at 245 E. Congress St., at 5th Avenue. "It's essentially the kind of space that I crave as a customer that I don't feel really exists. The heart and soul of it is a coffee shop, but it's a coffee shop that brings elements of a restaurant into it."
Shapiro, who is also the proud founder and owner of three Xoom Juice smoothie shops (one is located in the 245 E. Congress St. strip), describes Sparkroot as a trifecta. It will have three beverage groups: coffee and tea, homemade sodas and boutique/micro beer and wine, and will serve healthy vegetarian fare. "We're not a bar or a restaurant, or a pure coffee shop. We're an amalgamation of all three."
Shapiro shares the details with an energy that conveys measured excitement. However, the more he elucidates on the features of his new business and everything that has gone into it, the broader his smile and the livelier his brown eyes.
As we pour over the urban aesthetics of the Repp Design Construction plans, Shapiro points out the coffee, bar and kitchen areas, the loft, and the layout of the seating. "There will be individual counter seating; we're going to have a seven foot community table built by my friend Raj Helweg and have lounge chairs and sofas. We're making a lot of furniture ourselves, but we're also buying a lot of mid-century vintage stuff." Notching up the cool factor is a 1963 Wurlitzer jukebox, with tunes for free, and patio seating along 5th Avenue.
Shapiro makes it clear how important it is to him to utilize local talent and is employing Tucson's artist community to decorate and build out the space. Contributors include: Troy Neiman making a hanging bike rack and a table made of bike parts, Ezequiel Leoni building a 20 foot window bar facing Congress Street, Travis Edgar constructing a writer's table.
"If you want a story Jamie, here's the story - do you know how hard it is to get reclaimed wood?" Shapiro says they bought 480 board feet of Wisconsin barn wood from a man far south on Nogales Highway. "It is gorgeous, and weathered, and mostly red and there is still some hardware in planks. We are using that throughout the space."
While the layout is certainly unique, what customers won't get anywhere else in Tucson is the Blue Bottle Coffee Sparkroot is set to serve. Shapiro looked at local options and loved them, but went with the San Francisco based company because it "is at the very leading edge of specialty coffee."
The beer and wine selections will feature quality options priced for everyone. "All wine is going to be $5 a glass, all day, no specials. I don't want to serve a $9 glass of wine; I don't want to serve a $7 glass of wine. And then all beer will be $4 a bottle."
When it comes to the menu, Shapiro promises healthful options of homemade granola and whole food bars, Panini sandwiches, soups, hummus and more. "Basically, simple fare done with a lot of care and
creativity."
Keep an eye on Sparkroot.com for details on the opening.
