Kickstands up, Tucson — there’s a new hub in town for motorcycle lovers, craft beer enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a laid-back spot to hang.
This past weekend, Mission Motor Collective (MMC) officially opened at the corner of Grant Road and Stone Avenue. The space, which used to be a Cycle Gear store, is part bar, part gathering place for the city’s moto community, and part workshop at 2 W. Grant Rd.
Owner Jeremy London also happens to be a motorcycle builder — he’s excited for customers to see the progress as he builds out new bikes.
“I first got the idea to open the taproom while on a motorcycle trip out to the Mojave desert — a motorcycle race called the Biltwell 100. It is a 100-mile race through the desert,” said London. “I was thinking about how many people rode motorcycles here in Tucson, but the groups were fragmented and there wasn’t a direct community space for riders. There are some amazing places like MotoSonora Brewing and Gear Shifters, which do a lot for the moto community here in town. I wanted to do my part as well.”
At the moment, MMC has 12 beers on tap as well as five reach-in coolers full of beer, seltzer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options.
“My beer focus is all craft beer, and I particularly spotlight West Coast IPAs — they are my favorite,” London added. “We have three on tap right now as well as some hazy’s and double IPAs. Essentially we have a drink for everyone!”
The taproom also has a couple of pool tables and free-to-play dart boards. MMC has a few seats available at the bar and several tables throughout a wide open space — there’s plenty of room to spark up a conversation.
One wall has an area l where bikers can hang their helmets, and another is decked out with a nifty new mural of the Rat Fink. All of the murals in London’s shop were painted by his favorite tattoo artist in Tucson, Noah Nixon, who works at Brainwave Tattoo.
Everyone’s welcome — whether you roll in on a motorcycle, four wheels, or show up on foot. I can’t wait to pull up to a crowd of bikers and make my case for why a fixed-gear bicycle is all I need to cruise Tucson’s streets.
“Whether you ride on two wheels or just appreciate a good West Coast IPA, MMC is rolling in with good drinks, great company, and rotating food trucks five nights a week,” London assured me.
Currently, they are planning to have food trucks five days a week (Wednesday – Sunday). On Saturday, March 22, the punk rock hot dog cart, Odd Dogs, will be set up out front, and Willy’s Philly’s the following day (Sunday, March 23).
Both food trucks ought to be serving food from 4-8 p.m. each day.
Right now, the taproom is open from 2 – 9 p.m. on Monday – Thursday, noon – 10 p.m. on Friday – Saturday, and noon – 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Mission Moto Collective is located at 2 W. Grant Rd. For more information and to see their tap list, visit missionmotorcollective.com and also follow MMC 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.
