It’s been a few years now since the wigs inside Wig-O-Rama split and renovations began in the historic building on the corner of Congress Street and Scott Avenue.
Patricia Schwabe, owner of Penca (50 E. Broadway Blvd.) and Tooley’s Cafe (299 S. Park Ave.), and the team are officially opening National at 98 E. Congress St. on Saturday, October 19.
Growing up in Tucson, Wig-O-Rama seemed to be a downtown staple of some sort — even though I never stepped foot inside the store. So, now it’s exciting to know the vacant building will once again have the opportunity to be a go-to spot for downtowners.
Inside the former National Shirt Shop building, this new fast-casual breakfast/lunch cafe/bar is serving burritos, avocado toast, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and more.
The original plans were to name the business Shirt Shop Mercantile as a tribute to the National Shirt Shop, but it’s now simply National. When you stop by, look down at your feet as you walk in because you’ll see the original National Shirt Shop logo in the concrete from the 1950s.
Some of us had a chance to stop in National during its soft opening and chow down on a few dishes. Keep scrolling to check out a sneak peek of the breakfast menu!
Breakfast Menu
- Two Up Two Down ($18) – two farm eggs, choice of thick-cut applewood smoked bacon or jackfruit chorizo, choice of toast and jam, choice of roasted potatoes or a simple salad
- Avocado Toast ($13) – vegan ricotta, avocado, sprouts, toasted sourdough
- Pancakes ($17) – lemon batter, whipped berry vegan butter, candied lemon, red wine berry syrup
- Quinoa Breakfast Bowl ($16) – warm cocoa quinoa, vegan yogurt, fresh fruit, dates, nuts, toasted coconut
- Lox Breakfast ($16) – house-cured salmon, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, jammy egg, capers, red onion, dill, whipped herb cream cheese
- Bean Burrito ($9) – traditional pinto beans, queso oaxaca, Don Juan tortilla, choice of salsa roja or verde
- Scott Burrito ($11) – thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, farm eggs, roasted potatoes, Don Juan tortilla, choice of salsa roja or verde
- Berry Bowl ($7) – blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, oranges
- 520 Burrito ($10) – jackfruit chorizo, turmeric tofu scramble, roasted chickpeas, spinach, Don Juan tortilla, choice of salsa roja or verde
- Egg + Cheese Morning Sandwich ($9) – farm eggs, cheddar, Cholula crema, spinach, choice of bread
- 520 Breakfast Sandwich ($10) – jackfruit chorizo, avocado, spinach, turmeric tofu, sourdough
- Overnight Chia + Oat ($7) – toasted coconut, almonds, chocolate chips, maple syrup
National’s coffee menu is also stacked with options including espressos, americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, cold brews, matcha lattes, chai lattes, hot cocoa, and mochas. You can also get a classic drip coffee for a simple buzz to get you goin’.
Or, order something special on the “National Coffee” or “Refresher” menus, which will change with the seasons.
National Coffee
- Seasonal Matcha Latte ($9.75) – honey reduction, walnut orgeat
- Seasonal Chai Latte ($8) – apple, mint
- Seasonal Cold Brew ($8.50) – orange blossom water, cinnamon whip
- Shakerato ($6) – orange blossom water, cinnamon whip
- Espresso Tonic ($7)
- Seasonal Latte ($7.75) – sea salt mesquite caramel, rosemary
- Iced Pink Pony Milk Tea ($7.50) – hibiscus, lemongrass milk tea (caffeine free)
- Brown Sugar Coffee Cream ($9) – “a delectable silky treat, perfect after-lunch snack (or breakfast).”
- Coke + Coffee ($8) – ginger cordial, soda, espresso
Refreshers
- Blaster ($8) – energy, jamaica, ginger, orange
- B12 ($7) – vitamin B12, lemon shrub, cherry, almond
- El Co-Coco ($7) – electrolytes, collagen peptide, coconut water, lemon
Aside from a counter service-style breakfast and lunch (like what you experience at Tooley’s), the other half of the space at National will be a shop/venue for live music.
They’re selling books, candles, and other knick-knacks, which is right next to Wooden Tooth Records — take a peek in their shop, too, if you’re looking for new and used vinyl.
National’s lunch menu is even bigger than the breakfast menu and has the likes of Housemade Meatloaf, salmon, and National Pasta — Conchiglie, oyster mushrooms, peas, lemon, and cream.
Lunch Menu
Shareables
- Harvest Board ($10) – Pickled farm vegetables, crudités
- Ricotta & Thyme ($10) – House-made vegan whipped ricotta, thyme, spiced agave, toasted sourdough
- Pear & Burrata ($12) – Prosciutto, roasted pear, fresh burrata, basil, nuts
- Sweet & Spicy Nuts ($6) – Pecans, spiced almonds, roasted salty cashews
- National Olive ($11) – Warm Castelvetrano olives, garlic, fennel, thyme, rosemary, crushed red pepper, lemon zest
- Charcuterie ($24) – Prosciutto, cured salmon, burrata, purple rare board, whole grain mustard, blackberry jam, hummus, toasted bread
- Hummus ($10) – House-made hummus, good olive oil, house-made flatbread
Soup + Salad
- Matzo Ball Soup ($8) – Light chicken broth, house matzo ball, dill
- Tomato Basil ($8) – tomato, red pepper, garlic, onion, fresh basil
- Hemp & Kale Salad ($16) – Avocado, cucumber, black beans, roasted sweet potato, amaranth, green beans, radish, kale pesto vinaigrette
- Nicoise ($21) – bibb lettuce, marinated tuna, jammy egg, heirloom tomato, green beans, radish, capers, cannellini beans, Castelvetrano olives, cucumbers, artichoke hearts, lemon vinaigrette
- Garden Herb Salad ($16) – Mixed greens, cucumber, English peas, radish, herbs, avocado, lemon vinaigrette
- Orzo ($14) – cucumber, red onion, toasted pine nuts, spinach, herb vinaigrette
Sandwiches
- National Burger ($19) – Grass-fed Arizona-raised beef, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, heirloom tomato, cheddar, house pickles, lettuce, dijon aioli
- Turkey Club ($15) – house-smoked turkey, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, heirloom tomato, bib lettuce, country bread
- Crispy Chicken ($19) – Fried chicken, house pickles, citrus slaw, garlic fries
- Tuna Salad ($18) – lemon + herd marinated tuna, celery, capers, onions, grapes, bibb lettuce, sprouts, country bread
- 520 ($18) – Roasted eggplant, hummus, cucumber, fried shallot, pickled red onion, house flatbread
- Prosciutto + Berry ($19) – prosciutto di parma, blackberry jam, arugula, purple haze goat cheese, black pepper, ciabatta
Entrees
- National Pasta ($18) – Conchiglie, oyster mushrooms, peas, lemon, cream
- House Meatloaf ($15) – Grass-fed Arizona-raised beef and pork blend, your choice of sauce
- Chicken ($15) – Roasted or fried, your choice of sauce
- Salmon ($13) – Farm-raised, seared, your choice of sauce
- Chicken Tenders ($10) – Hand-breaded, fried, your choice of sauce
Sides
- Broccoli ($6) – Oven-roasted
- Green Beans ($6) – Garlic, brown butter, toasted almonds
- Vegetable Medley ($6) – Onion, green beans, broccoli, mushroom
- Cucumber Salad ($6) – Sliced cucumber, red onion, heirloom tomato, herbs, lemon
- Simple Salad ($7) – Mixed greens, cucumber, lemon vinaigrette
- Berry Bowl ($6) – Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, oranges
- Herbed Quinoa ($6) – Thyme, rosemary, parsley
- Mashed Potatoes ($6) – Just enough butter
- Mac & Cheese ($6) – Cheddar, Monterey Jack
- Fries ($6) – Hot & crispy, house aioli
- Tater Tots ($6) – “Do not ask for cheese on these.”
National also has a full-service bar with craft cocktails (NA or with alcohol), beer, and wine. Sometime in the next couple of weeks, Schwabe plans to start selling packaged beer, wine, and spirits.
Drinks
Cocktails
- The Bell ($12) – Pickle-infused vodka, pickle brine, umami bitters
- Barbara K ($12) – Coconut gin, cucumber, mint, lime, rose, soda
- Edward Abbey ($12) – Bourbon, coffee liqueur, black walnut
- Mimosa ($12) – Cava, orange
- Bowden ($12) – Whiskey, centum herbis, lemon shrub, hot water
- Paloma Rosa ($14) – Blanco tequila, cocchi rosa, grapefruit, soda
- Ms Kim ($12) – Mezcal, cappelletti, genepy, lemon
- Mary or Maria ($12) – Vodka or tequila, house bloody mix, lime
Low Show (low alcohol)
- Aperol Spritz ($13) – Aperol, lemon shrub, cava, soda
- Fernet + Coke ($12) – Fernet branca, amaretto, coke
- Garibaldi ($13) – Campari, fluffy orange juice
- Dark + Stormy ($12) – Blackstrap rum, ginger, lemon, soda
Tap Beer
- Greenwood Brewing – a light lager
- Four Peaks Brewing – a peach ale
Wine
- Gruner Veltliner 2021
- Skull Wines Red Blend 2021
- Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2021
The cafe/shop is officially open on Saturday, October 19. The hours of operation (which are subject to change) will be 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Tuesday – Sunday (closed on Monday).
National is located at 98 E. Congress St. For more information, follow National on Instagram and visit thenationaltucson.com.
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.
