Owner of Penca is opening a new concept in the former Ten55 Brewing location

May 26, 2022

By Matt Sterner

The Rio Nuevo Board has been busy, to say the least.

Just last month, the Board announced quite a bite, actually, including funding for a handful of new restaurants, hotels, and local businesses. Most recently, they’re lending a helping hand to a restaurant group that’s moving into Ten55 Brewing Company’s former spot.

Anthony Bourdain mural at the patio at Ten55 Brewing Company (Credit: Jackie Tran)

Soon after the announcement that Ten55 Brewing was moving out of 110 E. Congress St. and relocating to a different side of town. Rio Nuevo teamed up with Patricia Schwabe, the operator of the restaurant Penca, for the remodel and management of the former restaurant space.

Keeping local restaurants in the downtown area is something everyone loves to see, and it’s no different in this particular case. Everyone involved wants to make it a point that the space will continue to serve the community by offering up delicious bites.

So, what’s moving in?

The name of the restaurant is expected to be named Blue Front. Schwabe is fond of the name because they’d like to honor one of the former tenants that occupied the space in 1914. The new concept will include a lunch menu, Happy Hour specials that oughta strike anyone’s fancy, and a dinner menu for the after-work crowd to unwind.

Keep an eye out for construction to begin soon after Ten55 Brewing wraps up its time on Congress.

What’s next for the brewery?

This summer, Ten55 Brewing will be making moves to another building located in the midtown area, with plans to open near the end of the season. The move begins on Wednesday, June 1, meaning that the last day to enjoy a crisp beer at the downtown location is Sunday, May 29 — still plenty of time to stop by for a beer and some bites.

The new location, which has an address that has yet to be announced, will be closed for the summer while the crew gets the space prepared for brewing, eating, drinking, and good times. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks as Ten55 Brewing finalizes where the new location, which will be a Ten55 Brewing branded restaurant, too.

Read our May 2022 article “Ten55 Brewing Company is moving out of its downtown location.”

For more information about the Rio Nuevo Board’s upcoming projects and any updates on completion dates, visit rionuevo.org.

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Article By

Matt Sterner

At 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.

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