It’s a restaurant tucked off the main strips of St. Mary’s and I-10 in the middle of Dunbar Springs, and it’s possible that its more than 35-year run is coming to an end in 2022.
Restaurant owner, Gracie Soto, who recently took over for her grandmother, Grace Soto, after she passed away in December 2020, announced on Facebook that Anita’s Street Market may be closing its doors next year. The statement was a difficult one to put out, but due to unfortunate circumstances, it ultimately made sense.
Almost immediately, an outpour of love and support followed in the Facebook post’s comments. For Gracie Stoto, the reasoning behind the post was simple. She felt it was the right thing to do — a heads up for the loyal customers that have supported them over the years.
“A lot of our customers are like family,” said Soto. “We see them every day for breakfast and lunch so I’m very grateful for them. The right thing I thought to do in my heart was to at least let them know. I can’t promise that it that we will open next year.”
Soto also shared her respect toward the people who have been helping her since the passing of her grandmother and for providing assistance over the past year. Additionally, she’s got a lot of love for other local business owners that have been giving it their all throughout the pandemic.
“I hope that if anything comes out of this,” said Soto, “I hope that other small business owners are aware and know that they’re not alone. And also, you’ve gotta be wise and pick and choose who’s in your circle — especially when it comes down to the financial part of your business.”
“I know it’s hard right now, but I have faith that hopefully everything will be okay. Hopefully, next year will be a lot better and I will get everything situated.”
Currently, Anita’s Street Market is still open 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, and closed on Sunday and Monday.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
