Mexico in Season has carved out a place in the hearts of Tucsonans looking for vegan Mexican cuisine in a fast, casual, and friendly atmosphere. However, now the family-owned restaurant, which is known for options like nopalitos and seitan fajitas, might be forced to shutter. Owner Priscilla Teran says community support wasn’t the issue for her one-year-old restaurant located at on the southwest corner of Ajo Way and Palo Verde Road.
“The business is doing good and our clientele keeps growing, but we lost our partner and now we are faced with the decision of closing our doors,” Teran says.
Although Kickstarter campaigns can sometimes carry a stigma, Teran explains that they decided to go with crowdfunding due to demand from their regulars.
“Our customers don’t want us closing our doors and asked us to start a Kickstarter campaign to see if we could raise funds to keep our doors open,” she says.
With 29 days left, the restaurant has raised just over $500 of a $25,000 goal, and, unlike other sites such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter is an all or nothing fundraiser—either Mexico in Season gets $25,000 or nothing by the end of it. If Teran doesn’t find an investor or partner for Mexico in Season, she says she still plans to offer her fare to her loyal customers by using the Kickstarter funds to purchase a food truck.
You can help keep Mexico in Season pumping out those unique vegan Mexican eats by visiting their Kickstarter campaign page. Rewards for donors include free lunch for a $10 donation, a meal for two for $20, and a meal for eight that can be gifted to others for a $50 contribution.
This article appears in Jan 15-21, 2015.
Fer chrissakes, vegan, glooten-free, free-range avocados, Fair-Trade™ crema, locavore nopalitos and all that shit isn’t going to sell at Ajo and Palo Verde. She needs to relocate to within fixed-gear bike range of where all the dopey foodies of “New Tucson” live and do their Yelping and Urbanspooning. Her food might actually be really good but who buys that sort of thing down there? Did Juvy get gentrified while I wasn’t looking?
Al Tam, actually if you get passed all the catch words it is really just a local fast casual restaurant. Their prices are comparable to a Chipotle and their portions are bigger. They also have a lot more options. That location is actually a pretty good one. Chopstix’s is at the same strip mall and they been there for years. Burger King is across the street and if people just paid a few extra dollars they would get a far better meal. That stretch needed a good Mexican themed place to eat and it is unfortunate more people do not go there..
I do agree with all their emphasis on vegan, and healthy options, they would do much better in an area of Tucson that people would appreciate them.
I know I will be donating to their cause. I hope their restaurant does stay open or at least their do buy a food truck. I will follow their burro all over this town…
Great post Mike. I agree.
I love this restaurant, but it takes about an hour to get there from Oro Valley/Marana area, so I rarely go there. We don’t have anything good like this in our area.
Kirsten is right, but please take the time to go try it. Keep them going and maybe we can move them.
Mike, 90% of the people who walk into burger king have exactly $4.27 and a half smoked cigarette in their pocket.
You are right Joe, and for supper they have Bud Lite and chicken wings with plenty of ranch dressing. That torta in the picture looks damn good!
I have been there twice when I’m in the area. The food is outstanding and fresh too. I had a fresh cucumber lemonade that was to die for. The first comment is correct, there location is poor. If they were more central, close to the U of A, in the Northwest, along the Campbell corridor or even in the East they would be so busy it would be hard for them to keep up. They are that good. Chopstix is busy because the Hispanic market absolutely devours Chinese food.
As a business owner in Tucson for 20 yrs, who supports local I wish them the best. If they have to go to a food truck they will do very well.
Tucson should organize a cash mob for Mexico In season!
They lost a business partner, not business. If you have ever been there you know it’s busy and there are several large offices in the area that appreciate this location! The food is beyond what my little taste buds can handle! Yummmmm, now I’m craving some! So get out the word and support Mexico In Season!
I live in the neighborhood, and *love* Mexico in Season. I try to advertise it to my co-workers every chance I get, spreading menus at the office lunch table and offering it as an option every time it comes up.
I have to say, they got a mediocre review from Tucson Weekly a few weeks into their opening–and that didn’t help. The next time (if ever) an independent, ingredient-focused, chef-driven restaurant opens on the Southside–Tucson Weekly, send someone who understands food (and the difficulties of a restaurateur opening in a USDA-declared food desert) or stay the eff away.
Best food EVER! My fav restaurant. Maybe the area could use some vegan, glouten-free, free-range avocados, crema, locavore nopalitos….try it before you make comments. I wish healthy eating and living would catch on in Arizona.