If you think fast food is always unhealthy, Salad Nation is here to show you something new.
On Wednesday, April 12, from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Salad Nation will celebrate its first anniversary with an official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. This family-owned business, which is located inside the Park Place Mall, offers healthy meals that cater to different tastes and preferences, with menu offerings like chicken sandwiches, paninis, fresh salads with housemade dressings, and much more.
“We’re family owned and operated,” said Salad Nation co-owner Omar Solorzano. “We also bring a lot of the Hispanic roots that come with Salad Nation from my dad.”
You’ll find Hispanic-inspired flavors in the dressings and traditional soups, like Caldo de Queso, Tortilla Soup, and Mexican Noodle Soup.
“He was a little seed, and I was the one who kept trying to make this plant grow, get everything going, and then my mom jumped in,” said Solorzano. “She runs a lot of the accounting and finances, and a lot of like the color tones, the logo, everything was inspired by her. And then I’m the one who made all the gears, all of the little internal things that they couldn’t think of.”
The passion for providing healthy options has brought the family closer together and resulted in a place where they can work together and share their love for Tucson and the community.
Solorzano has a dream to grow the company and eventually have enough locations to start a fund that benefits the community. Through this fund, they plan to do as much as possible to help better schools and support children in Tucson.
“We’re just full of gratitude. We’re full of love, and we want to keep seeing our whole community flourish.”
Solorzano and his family are also taking a bold step towards reducing their use of plastic while adopting eco-friendly practices. This is being done by shifting to biodegradable cups and paper bags instead of plastic.
So, not only are you enjoying a great meal, but you’re also supporting a business that’s prioritizing sustainability. Don’t miss the grand opening on Wednesday, April 12, where you can try their menu and celebrate their first anniversary.
Salad Nation is located at 5870 E. Broadway Blvd., space 548. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Monday – Thursday, and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday – Saturday. For more information, visit saladnationarizona.com.
Article written by:
Hannah Hernandez
More about HannahOne of Tucson’s distinguished media creators, Hannah Hernandez, also known as Death Free Foodie, navigates the realms of digital imagery, video editing, and photography.
The trajectory of Hannah’s life changed in 2017 when she adopted a vegan lifestyle, which invited new ways of relating to food and its sources. Choosing to start with sources most immediate to her, Hannah eagerly began exploring local vegan purveyors. Before she knew it she was applying her creative passions toward promoting vegan businesses and makers around Tucson, and Death Free Foodie was born.
Through Death Free Foodie came increased exposure to Tucson’s vegan culture and communities, and it was only a matter of time before Hannah acquired a dedicated following. The growth of Death Free Foodie paralleled Hannah’s personal growth beyond her comfort zones, and she welcomed a new chapter of endless foodie experiences and community involvement.
As means of relaxing, Hannah enjoys dancing and painting her heart out. She also has a garden in her backyard where she grows her favorite herbs, fruits, and veggies.
You can catch glimpses of the many expressions of Hannah’s life’s harvest via her Instagram stories. If you’re curious to see what Hannah’s up to next, follow her at @Deathfreefoodie and check out the link in her bio for reliable access to vegan content.
