Over the weekend, Johnny Gibson’s Downtown Market closed, allowing the owners of HighWire to remodel and rebrand the space into a brand-new bodega concept.
The following was shared on social media:
“After many wonderful years, Johnny Gibson’s Downtown Market has officially closed its doors today, December 21st. We are deeply grateful for your loyalty and support — it has been an honor to serve this community.”
The new concept will be named Gibson Food Hall & Market with a new bar area and revamped indoor and outdoor dining spaces.
The market’s construction is set to begin during the second week of January, and the team is hoping for a reopening in September 2025.
Back in 2015, Johnny Gibson’s first opened its doors to the public, becoming the first market to open in downtown Tucson in decades.
The market was named after Johnny Gibson, who you would see hovering over the deli area — portraits of Johnny Gibson, that is. Gibson was a weightlifter, a World War II veteran, a designer of fitness equipment, and a local barber. For almost 60 years, Gibson owned a barbershop on Sixth Avenue.
So, don’t fret! The market is coming back in 2025 — the estimated reopening is in September.
Also, as mentioned earlier, construction is set to begin during the second week of January so pardon the dust near the corner of Sixth Avenue and Congress.
Johnny Gibson’s Downtown Market is located at 11 S. Sixth Ave. Keep up with any future changes by following Johnny Gibson’s on Instagram.
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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.
