…Once you’ve dropped your bags, head to the Mercado District. At Mercado San Agustín, have a late lunch at Seis Kitchen, the former food truck turned courtyard fixture, for tacos, burritos, and churros with caramel sauce. Afterward, walk over to MSA Annex to poke around the container shops and grab a coffee or a snack if you need it…

Almost 40 local businesses participated in Small Business Saturday in the Mercado District. Hear from Kristin Tovar, owner of Why I Love Where I Live.

As you weave through the shipping containers at the MSA Annex, you can’t help but stop in your tracks.

A rich, buttery aroma suddenly fills the air. It smells like warm, perfectly toasted bread with delicate, subtly sweet notes entwined in it.

Like a cartoon, you’re floating off the ground as the heavenly scent leads you to one particular container.

You swing open the door, ready to finally find the source for the mouthwatering smell, spotting trays and trays of freshly baked loaves of bread, and golden brown, flaky croissants.

This baked good paradise is the work of Alexander Phaneuf and his team, who have transformed this former storage container into a bakery that smells as amazing as it tastes.

Phaneuf, along with Adam Weinstein and Kira Dixon-Weinstein, have opened Hidden Hearth, a new micro-bakery at the MSA Annex that serves up whole-grain breads, unique viennoiserie, and pastries that will have you hooked from first bite.

The MSA Annex in Tucson’s Mercado District continues its expansion with two exciting new food establishments opening their doors this month. BŌS Burger, a Japanese-inspired burger joint, and Hidden Hearth Bakery, a specialty whole-grain bakery, are the latest additions to the growing scene that has been developing since 2018.

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — The Mercado District on Tucson’s west side has steadily grown over the years, now housing 39 small independent businesses. Dolce Pastello, was the first business to open in the Mercado San Agustín Public Market in 2011. Owner Ahydee Almazàn has been creating sweet memories at her shop ever since.

Kira Dixon-Weinstein, Mercado District Executive Director, says the process to be the first tenant was competitive and out of all of the applicants, Almazán rose to the top.

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Thousands of people gathered on Tucson’s west side on Sunday to memorialize their loved ones at Tucson’s 36th Annual All Souls Procession (ASP). The event has given the community a creative space to honor those who’ve passed and celebrate the beauty of life.

It began in 1990 by local artist Susan Johnson and is now run by the non-profit Many Mouths One Stomach.

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Get ready to raise your steins Sunday, Oct. 19, because a brand new tradition is brewing in the heart of the Mercado District on the Westside.

The very first Oktoberfest at the MSA Annex is shaping up to be a true celebration of local flavor, music, and community spirit — from handcrafted sausages and a special beer releases to flower crowns, this festival has something for everyone.

The Gadsden Company, Hidden Hearth Bakery and Crooked Tooth Brewery are all sponsors of the free event.

The Santa Cruz River Farmers Market, run by the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, is one of the 10 best in the country, according to the folks who publish the venerable Farmers’ Almanac.