Sahuarita is not a dry community by design. Believe me, you live down in this Stepford-like community long enough and you're going to want to drink.

But when the El Charro restaurant on Rancho Sahuarita Blvd. closed in mid-June, it left this suburb of 26,000-plus without an actual place to sit down and enjoy a beer, a margarita or a couple-three shots of Jack. I mean, unless you don't mind sitting on the curb outside the Fry's Marketplace or the Super Stop.

El Charro's owners said at the time it planned on opening a gastropub in the El Charro spot in the near future, but it wasn't until I saw the permanent sign for Pub 22 go up this week that I was convinced it would actually happen.

• Actual physical proof of a (future) Sahuarita bar

When, exactly, that Pub 22 will open, though, is anyone's guess.

A noticeably flustered worker told me today he "hopes" the joint will open in about two weeks, though it all depends on when "all the little details" are taken care of. A quick look inside makes it seem that all the infrastructure is in place, including some nice-sized TVs, lots of steel and grunge decor, as well as 24 tap handles. The plan is to have possibly 16 craft beers on tap, along with a menu that will still incorporate the El Charro brand of Mexican food along with "Italian food, great American food, some awesome mac & cheese" and who knows what else.

Just let me know when I can start a tab.