I’ve got a little Tucson secret for you.

At the corner of First Street and Main Avenue — just across the tracks from Anita Street Market — sits a special place that has claimed many of my afternoons. It’s a place that the beautiful restaurants of Tucson already know and love. You’ve probably driven past it a hundred times, unaware of the treasures inside.

I’m talking about Originate — an incredible local resource for anyone looking to build or renovate their home or commercial space using environmentally friendly and sustainable materials.

It’s hard to say what the best part of Originate is. The beautiful showroom? The amazing salvage yard? The Indiana Jones-style warehouse? Brin the dog?

For me, it’s the owner — Natasha Winnik. She’s helped me dozens of times over the years. An architect by training, Winnik has been working with natural building materials for over two decades. Winnik and her team are a wealth of knowledge, which you’ll find is very forthcoming and always on point with your vision, budget, and whatever specific requirements you may have in mind including durability, flexibility, toxicity, sustainability, aesthetic, and much, much more.

The last time I went to Originate, I walked away with 30 2″x10″ beams salvaged from a local historic property. The time before that it was non-toxic adhesives and paints. The time before that Winnik spent an hour helping me ultimately decide on beautiful black paper stone countertops for a camper renovation project.

After taking over Tucson Foodie last year, I’ve come to learn that this Tucson gem has also been supplying for some of my favorite restaurants over the years. 

Originate supplied the countertops and mineral-pigmented paint on the walls at the former Zinman’s. The decorative architectural window frame being used to hold pasta utensils at Ceres? It’s from the salvage yard at Originate.

The salvage light fixtures for Exo Roast’s Simpson location? Pulled out of Originate’s warehouse. The marmoleum flooring at Kingfisher? Originate.

The American Clay on the bathroom walls of the Coronet, Beaut Burger’s service windows, and the compressed paper counters at Agustin Kitchen are all supplied by Originate. If you’ve ever eaten at Zinburger on River Road near Campbell Avenue, Originate is who to thank for the bamboo butcherblock used for the tables and the main bar counter.

Originate recognizes that restaurants, in particular, have a significant impact on the environment, both in terms of their construction and daily operations. By offering sustainable building materials, Originate is helping restaurants reduce their environmental footprint and create a healthier and more responsible dining experience for their customers. And it doesn’t end there — the right materials choices can reduce noise levels, improve indoor air quality, and frankly, look stunning.

It’s a very Tucson thing to do.

Maybe we can convince Winnik to host a Foodie 500 mixer in her showroom one day. Until then, you can find Originate at 948 N. Main Ave. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments — which can be made by calling (520) 792-4207 — are encouraged so you can get some good one-on-one time with her.

For more information, visit originatenbm.com.