Contigo Latin Kitchen partners Deborah Tenino and Nicholas Kreutz announced plans to open Locale at 60 N. Alvernon Way. Tenino and Kreutz hope to open the restaurant in Spring 2020.
The 8,000-square-foot space previously housed Abuela’s Cocina Mexicana, which opened early 2018 and closed approximately 10 weeks after opening. Before that, the space housed Bob McMahon restaurant Old Pueblo Grille, which closed in 2015. Prior to Old Pueblo Grille, the space has housed numerous restaurants spanning decades.
While the two previous restaurants served Mexican cuisine, Locale will focus on Italian.
“I like the idea of Italian food in that space,” Tenino said. “I like the idea of dining al fresco and that patio is so good for that.”
The concept will be divided into a few different spaces: a restaurant, patio, bakery, and wine shop.
Seating will vary for each area; the bakery will seat around 35, two private dining rooms will seat around 50, the main dining room will seat around 80, and the patio will seat around 50.
Locale has been working with various families that have lived in the house in the past in order to restore certain aspects, Tenino said. They will also “green up the patio” and add bocce courts.
The restaurant has also been working with Don Guerra of Barrio Bread, using his flours to develop pastries, pastas, and focaccia. They will also utilize other local ingredients for the menu.
Further more, Locale will offer pizza al taglio, a rectangular pizza style invented in Rome. Customers will be able to order by the slice with different toppings available.
“I think it’s exciting for the neighborhood,” Tenino said. “We’re excited about it.”
Stay tuned for additional information.
For more information, visit localetucson.com.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
