Yeah Write Mark

Tag: support local

  • The Purple Penguin

    The Purple Penguin

    A Sweet Local Business That Needs Some Love Right Now

    Since what seems like forever now, Tucson has been a shining hot bed of road construction. Like the kind of intrusive breaking and building of asphalt and concrete that sends normal commuters into the wee stratospheres of quaint neighborhoods where you make ten right turns, roll over speed humps the size of sleeping giants, engage with a wizard high on meth to get the secret code to open the portal of “Oh god I just want to get to work/home…where the fxxk am I?” before you finally get on a stretch that resembles some form of safe thoroughfare only to find more road construction. In that case just park your rig, get out, meander into the desert, become one with the sand and saguaros, find peace with your imminent demise before making friends with a family of javalinas who take you in as one of theirs after you gain their trust living your last days naked and feral but happy because road construction does not exit out here in the wasteland.

    Your family will understand.

    Here is where the fun begins

    Yes, the ever-present and never-ending street rehabilitation that goes on here in the Old Pueblo is staggering. So many businesses have suffered because of it. Heck my local health food store where I refill our water bottles is always under threat of it and the usual cool and calm hippies that run the shop scowl and have some choice words. Cursing and scowling hippies. It has come to that.

    They snap, they crackle and they, um…do something else too

    Right now, the 22nd street bridge that links so many avenues and, yes, local businesses, is closing for 3 YEARS which is, and already has, affected said avenues and businesses.

    In fact, one of my favorite shops in town has gotten the word out that it may in fact close its doors for good because of the bridge closure. This is absolutely rotten news if it comes to fruition because this place is not just unique but a necessity for a Gen X dork like me.

    Laffy Taffy, you my only freind

    The Purple Penguin is a candy shop that is unlike any other in town. Not only for its wide selection of treats and sweets but the fact that most of the variety it boasts is a throwback to golden ages of yesteryear delectables. What I mean is that you can find candy here that is from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s…you get the idea.

    That’s right.

    Not too sure if kids today would get this concept

    I haven’t had Big League Chew since I was a little boy, but Purple Penguin sure carries it. Whatchamacallits, Pop Rocks, Hubba Bubba, and, yes, Lik ‘Em Sticks, aka Fun Dips. You know that slightly flavored sugar that you, well, lick a stick and then you dip in packs of colored sucrose then get super high because this was basically cocaine lite for kids. Yeah. Awesome.

    Gotta catch, and eat, them all

    There are bins and bins of wrapped candy that you pay for by the pound, the perfect spot to load up for a birthday, Christmas and of course Halloween. There are shelves lined with delicious sodas and if you are a Harry Potter fan this is the place to visit since there are all sorts of treats and toys from that franchise.

    As a big D&D player and old school video game fan I was happy to see sweet nibbles locked inside polyhedron dice or tins with Donkey Kong or Link from the Legend of Zelda on them. Theres just so much here. Which is why it is our duty Tucson to keep the doors of the Purple Penguin open. We/you/I need this adventurous venue around.

    You work up a thirst eating all that candy

    The owner, Gigi Spinks, bought the Purple Penguin nearly two years ago from the original owner who opened the shop in 2019. Gigi herself has been a longtime customer and was thrilled to be handed the keys to a local legacy.

    *insert nerd cough here*

    But now, with all of that noise going on down her street and closures happening every hour on the hour it seems, the Purple Penguin is struggling to keep its doors open. Which totally sucks. Tell me where in Tucson can I go and get retro candy as well as socks, sarsaparilla, geeky merch, toys and stickers while being surrounded by classic games, memorabilia and rotary pay phones? Nope. Can’t think of a place. If you know of one, well, I don’t want to know. Because the Purple Penguin is my go to locale for such happy time bits and bites.

    Ah, a corner made just for me

    [For my younger readers out there, a rotary phone is, uh, oh never mind. You probably don’t know what a pay phone is either, so I’ll just stop here and continue to be middle aged.]

    Hey mom, what are those things?

    Like said in one of my all-time favorite movies, Back to the Future, “Save the clock tower! Save the clock tower!” Only this time we need to save the Purple Penguin. Okay, its still open but we need to make sure that it remains that way. In fact, when I was last there the shelves and bins were a little empty. Gigi said that with the help of local bloggers and a feature on KGUN9 news, there recently was a rush of folks coming in to see what was going on and to buy up as much as they could. That’s awesome. I wasn’t alone on that last visit as there was a decent crowd of new and regular customers looking around and filling their baskets.

    Sweet

    Let’s make sure it stays that way.

    There you have it Tucson: The Purple Penguin. You know what to do. Go now, load up, keep a local business alive and feel good about yourself. Well, unless you eat too many Laffy Taffys and Abba Zabbas. Then you gotta listen to the songs of the Oompa Loompas. You know what I’m talking about.

    “What do you get when you guzzle down sweets?”

    That’s on you though. You’re a grown-up. Thing is, the Purple Penguin makes us all feel like kids again. In times like these, we all need some sweet relief and good ‘ol timey fun.

    Cheers!

    See you here soon

    Purple Penguin

    3392 E 22nd St, Tucson, AZ

    Sunday & Monday: 11am – 6pm

    Tuesday – Thursday: 11am – 5pm

    Friday & Saturday: 10am – 8pm

    (520) 660-2511

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  • Mission Motor Collective

    Mission Motor Collective

    “I like it here. Its got a lot of space.”

    Get your motor runnin’

    When you think of a beer hall, what exactly comes to mind? Those vast ventures in Germany during Oktoberfest that are akin to open air circus arenas equipped with smiling ladies donning blonde twists and carrying, like, a dozen frosty mugs in each hand? Or maybe just the Pima County Fair, sans sad 80s band mewling in the distance, and if it actually served decent ales and lagers?

    Okay, Mission Motor Collective is not that big, but it’s pretty big.

    This space is the place

    We here in Tucson might be used to spacious locations to pull down yon frothy goodness, and we are fortunate to have a wide selection of said locations. We got the room, no doubt. But the moment I first stepped foot into Mission Motor Co. the first thing that came to mind was “Oh its like a picnic area, but with craft beer and no active hornets nests.”

    Opening just a few months ago here in the year 2025, Mission Motor Collective is the brainchild and passion piece of Nashville, TN native Jeremy London.

    “There’s a lot of motorcycle riders here in Tucson but there really isn’t a specific meeting place where they can get together and get to know one another,” he says. “We want Mission Motor to be that place.”

    Grab ‘n go…or stay

    A longtime rider and builder of bikes himself, Jeremy needed a creative endeavor for both him and his wife Britney as they both work corporate jobs that don’t really embrace creativity on this level. Plus they both totally love craft beer. Makes sense.

    “There’s really nothing like Mission Motor in this area,” notes Jeremy. Its true. Located on the corner of Grant and Stone with neighbors being Grant Stone market, a donut shop and veterinarian center, they do stand out quite easily as the go to destination for canned, bottled and on tap quality brews.

    Its easy to get lost in the Congress and 4th Ave pivot of bars and restaurants but the corner of Grant and Stone? Yeah. No. In fact, Mission Motor should be a stop for downtown folks going home after work, or before work if you’re pulling in a night shift seeing as Mission Motor opens regularly at 2pm. If that’s your thing.

    Remember kids, safety first

    Currently they have 12 taps of rotating hoppy malty greatness along with a line of fridges filled with cans and bottles of imported and domestic tipples along with non-alcoholic options as well. So grab a flavor of your choice and sit for a while. Or take a bunch home. Or take some home after you have stayed a bit. Up to you. Hey, you’re a grown up, you do you.

    Stick ’em if you got ’em

    In the tradition of said European mead marts, Mission Motor Co. has two British regulation dart boards. What I mean by that is they are the proper weight (aka heavy as fxxk), made with real cork and are at the exact height for UK competition level dart playing. That’s right, they don’t play around.

    “It took about three of us to mount those things,” Jeremy says with a laugh. “But it is so worth it as we plan to start a dart league real soon.”

    Motor isn’t in their name for nothing

    Another thing you will immediately notice as you walk in is the mural sized rendition of Rat Fink on the Stone side wall. Pained by a locally renown tattoo artist, ol’ RF is donning a MMC shirt and looks as if he is racing to get to those taps.

    Best part is, art is literally everywhere here. Mission Motor is currently on their 2nd art exhibition and will feature more in the future. Don’t just buy a pint or three, buy a painting or photograph from local artists as well. C’mon! Get some culture in your pad.

    Beer and art, always the perfect combo

    Mission Motor Co. is also host to various game nights such as Bingo and trivia but don’t be afraid to bring your own games because this is the place to do such activities. Heck I’m thinking of moving our D&D club over to Mission Motor.  They allow outside food and the beer selection is a lot better than what we usually provide. And the bathrooms actually work. That’s a plus.

    I sure hope they have a ‘one of each’ policy

    Speaking of food, you can find a new food truck parked outside most days and nights. Just check their Instagram to see what motorized vittles they are serving up. Trust me here, its always something grand and delicious.

    If you just need a snack, there’s a selection of nibbles for you to take on. Oh and they have a tight lineup of wine too. This place has it all!

    First you hang ’em up then you rack ’em up

    What would a badass place such as Mission Motor be if they didn’t have live music as well? Because they totally do! I mean, hey, they have the space for it. By that I mean its bigger than most clubs here in town, or anywhere really. And the bathrooms actually work. Again, always a plus.

    Having a family function or need a place for your event? Look no further! You can rent out Mission Motor for a very reasonable rate. They don’t have pool tables and a fine collection of IPAs at those boring party halls with those dopey round fold tables and broken microphones do they? No they do not.

    Mission Motor even did a Goth clothing exchange recently. Like, who does that? Gothy places, sure, but not any tap house that I have been to. And believe me, I’ve been to my fair share of beer forts. Maybe they are on to something. Bring the pale kids to the pale ales. I’d be so down for that.

    Of course Rat Fink loves this bar, of course

    Seeing as Mission Motor shares a wall with a vet clinic, they are also pet friendly. After Mittens gets their checkup, bring ‘em in and sit for a spell. A cold glass, bottle or can of quality crafty awesomeness will take the sting out of any doctor bill.

    Its just great to know that a place such as Mission Motor Co. exists in our fine desert hamlet. We need more people such as Jeremy and Britney who rely on the goodness of our community. So get yourself and your buddies over to Mission Motor Co. In fact, that’s what I’m going to do right now. See you there.

    Cheers!

    Thank you Jeremy and Britney

    Mission Motor Collective

    2 W. Grant Rd. Tucson AZ

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    Words and photos

    Mark Whittaker

    yeahwritemark@gmail.com