Inside Tucson Business 07/28/2023

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ADVERTISING

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EDITORIAL & AD CONTENT

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Gyms are rebounding strong from a painful stretch

By Jimmy Magahern

Inside Tucson Business Contributor

At the July 8 pre-grand opening “sneak peek party” at World Gym Tucson, eager prospective members were lined up around the 20,000 square-foot building for a chance to preview the state-of-the-art facility.

“We were not expecting as many people as we got,” said franchise owner Phillip Krausch, a Tucson native who also runs a family business here installing custom windows and doors.

“People were standing outside in 103 degree heat. We were going up and down the line, handing out water bottles and giving them snacks. They were willing to wait in line just to see this gym that everybody’s been waiting for.”

On the night of the party, Facebook and Instagram were inundated with young patrons posting quick videos of themselves posing James Bond-style with supplied bubble-blowing guns and happily flexing their muscles on the gym floor.

“In 2020, fitness moved from gyms to living rooms,” the Post postmortem added.

“It’s not going back.”

Except it has, surprisingly. Nationwide, visits to gyms and health clubs were up 30% at the start of 2023 compared with just a year previously, according to foot traffic analytics firm Placer.ai. For Tucson specifically, Placer.ai shows current monthly visits at top fitness chains like Planet Fitness and LA Fitness in the 50,000 to 98,000 range.

While movie theaters have struggled to draw people back from the comfort and safety of their living rooms, gyms are performing even stronger now than pre-pandemic – in some cases taking over the cavernous buildings vacated by theater owners. Indeed, retail owners are now leaning on gyms to anchor their faltering malls and shopping centers.

Strength, who made statewide news in June 2020 when he refused to follow then-Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive order for gyms to “pause operations” for the second time that year (Arizona gyms were previously mandated to close from March 18 through May 13).

Sawaya pivoted by first renting then purchasing giant circus tents and fans to transform his club’s parking lot into a 10,000-squarefoot outdoor training area, a popular feature Tucson Strength has retained post-pandemic.

Sawaya is locked in a heated battle with the city over permanent permitting issues for his tents. In the meantime, Krausch said World Gym Tucson will also feature an outdoor “Muscle Beach” workout space – as soon as he can get the city permit. The demand is there.

As the summer heat wave continues to affect Tucson, it’s crucial to prioritize the safety of employees who are required to work in extreme heat. At Cox, where we have a significant number of outdoor workers during Arizona’s summer months, we understand the importance of addressing this issue. The record high temperatures make it crucial to ensure the well-being of employees by keeping them safe and healthy in hot working conditions. Follow these tips to protect your employees and minimize the risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries.

Provide comprehensive training. Offer training programs to employees who work outdoors about heat stress, its impact on health and safety, and preventive measures.

Distribute emergency alerts. Set up an alert system that sends text messages to employees working outdoors during extreme heat or dust storm warnings, keeping them informed and safe.

When temperatures reach 110 degrees, Cox supervisors go to the field and distribute Gatorade, Propel, towels and water to field technicians. This initiative not only keeps our teams hydrated but also allows leaders to check in with those working outside all day.

Implement regular rest periods. Ensure employees have adequate time to rest indoors during workdays. Consider scheduling company meetings in the afternoon, allowing employees to take a break in a cool indoor environment.

3275 W. Ina Rd., Tucson, AZ 85741 Ph: 520-797-4384 www.insidetucsonbusiness.com

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Three years ago, nobody would have predicted such a scene. After all, gyms were supposed to have died during the pandemic.

A January 2021 headline in The Washington Post proclaimed, “The pandemic’s home-workout revolution may be here to stay,” echoing reams of articles concluding that the surge in Peloton purchases and streaming exercise classes following the COVID-19-mandated gym closures signaled the start of a seismic shift in the fitness industry.

In the first quarter of 2023, move-ins by fitness centers nationally increased to more than 4.5 million square feet, up from about 2 million at the end of 2021, according to CBRE, a real estate services firm.

“For fitness buffs and landlords,” blared the headline of a November 2022 reappraisal in The New York Times, “gyms are hot again.”

Danny Sawaya, for one, never had any doubts that the industry would power-lift itself out of the slump.

“I always knew things would get back to where we were,” said the oft-outspoken owner of Tucson

“People missed the community,” Sawaya said, adding that many of his members kept paying monthly dues during the shutdown to keep the gym afloat (not every gym was so lucky). “I mean, this is where people come to be around like-minded individuals – that helps keep them on their fitness program.”

Sawaya added that the work-from-home revolution has actually boosted business for gym owners, who now see foot traffic at all times of the day. Pre-pandemic, most visits tended to occur at lunch hours and before and after traditional

Establish a buddy system. Assign each employee a “buddy” with whom they can check in on daily. This system ensures that everyone is accounted for and their safety is prioritized.

Introduce heat-friendly uniforms. During the scorching Arizona summer, Cox field employees wear light-colored clothing, Bermuda shorts, golf shirts, and wide-brimmed hats to shield themselves from the intense sun. Emphasize the importance of sunscreen application to prevent burns.

Encourage regular skin checks. The Arizona sun can be harsh on the skin, so encourage employees to schedule yearly exams with dermatologists to stay proactive against skin cancer caused by sun exposure.

Provide necessary resources.

Initiate a hydration challenge. Promote proper hydration by challenging employees to drink at least 100 ounces of water daily. Consider offering a prize to the person who consistently logs 100 ounces each day.

Create shaded areas. If possible, set up frame tents or canopies at the jobsite to provide employees with a place to retreat from the sun. Fans with misters can also be used to cool down the area.

Adjust summer hours. Consider allowing employees to start their workdays earlier, reducing their exposure to the afternoon heat. At Cox, we enable our field teams to begin as early as 7 a.m., and we restrict technicians from working in customers’ attics after 10 a.m. when temperatures are particularly high. Schedule such tasks in the morning instead. Lisa Lovallo, a lifetime Arizonan, is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communications, leading a team of 250+ Southern Arizona Cox employees. Prior to joining the Cox Southern Arizona team, Lovallo ran a family business based in Tucson. Reach her at lisa.lovallo@cox.com.

PEOPLEINACTION

Kristina Swallow hired by city of Tucson

Following an extensive national search and competitive process, the city of Tucson appointed Kristina Swallow the new planning and development services director.

Most recently, Swallow served as the director of the Nevada Department of Transportation, where she managed an annual budget of $1 billion.

With nearly three decades of experience in engineering and management across various sectors, Swallow has undertaken numerous projects at the local, state and federal levels. Her understanding of the public and private sectors further enhances her ability to make meaningful contributions to the city of Tucson.

Swallow’s ties to Southern Arizona are deep-rooted, as she spent her early years in Tucson, and her family continues to reside here.

“I’m excited about returning to my hometown and reconnecting with old acquaintances while forging new friendships,” Swallow said.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the UA and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Nevada.

Swallow said she is excited to address the challenges facing Tucson’s planning and development services.

“Recognizing the department’s challenges is an important step towards positive change,” Swallow said.

“By acknowledging these issues, we demonstrate our dedication to addressing them. The support of the community is integral to our success. Together, we can continue to improve and celebrate the department’s accomplishments.”

Travis Atwood joins district foundation’s board

Travis Atwood of Snell & Wilmer was elected to the Catalina Foothills School District Foundation’s board of directors.

Founded in 1983, the CFSD Foundation has provided support for teacher-initiated projects in the classroom, and currently focuses on raising funds for attracting and retaining teachers. The foundation’s vision is for CFSD schools to have the resources needed to provide students with high-quality educational opportunities.

Atwood is a member of the firm’s corporate and securities group where he focuses his practice on business transactions. He regularly negotiates and drafts documents for mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations, representing both buyers and sellers in these transactions. In addition to M&A transactions, Atwood also represents clients with securities offerings, entity formation and governance, drafting commercial agreements, and a wide variety of other general corporate matters.

He also served for five years as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army.

Jill Casson Owen elected to Beacon Group board

Jill Casson Owen of Snell & Wilmer was elected to Beacon Group’s board of directors.

The Beacon Group was founded in 1952 as Homecrafts, a program for adults with disabilities that provided job training. Today, Beacon serves more than 2,000 people with disabilities and continues to provide job training, but has expanded its offerings to include job placement, socialization, and day treatment programs.

Since merging with Tetra Corp. in 2003, the Beacon Group has become the largest employer of people with disabilities in Southern Arizona.

Casson Owen has a diverse real estate and business transactional practice, providing advice to public and private entities and individuals. She also advises clients on a variety of federal, state and local regulatory compliance matters. In addition, she has worked on issues related to appropriation, management and sale of water rights.

Travis Atwood

Kristina Swallow

Jill Casson Owen

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work schedules.

“The gym is definitely busier in the middle of the day than it ever used to be,” he said. “We’re seeing some of that winding down now, as businesses start to bring people back into the office. But there’s still a good number of our members who work a lot from home, and that gives them more flexibility in their workout schedules.”

For some remote workers, the gym has also become one of the few places where they can come to be around other people.

“I have members tell me, ‘This is my one place where I get to socialize.’ They say, ‘I’ve worked from home for the last three years, and this is where I get to mingle. This is where I get to have adult conversations and get away from my kids,’” Sawaya added, with a laugh. “And so I think that’s a big part of it as well.”

Krausch says he expects to see the same effect at World Gym Tucson.

“There’s certain people that want to work out at

home,” he said. “But when you start realizing that you don’t get that feel, that vibe that you get when you go to a gym and you see other people working out, that’s when you decide to get back into it.

“I have a home gym myself,” Krausch added, “but I can’t work out there like I can at an actual gym. I don’t get that same feeling. Not only that, but you also have different varieties of equipment at an actual gym. You can do different things every day. People who have been working out at home don’t get that variety.”

That’s not to say at-home fitness is dead. Americans invested heavily in home fitness equipment during the pandemic – sales of stationary bikes nearly tripled during the last half of 2020, for example – and “online personal trainers” have become popular enough to score their own “Power List” in a recent Sports Illustrated.

Tucson native Ashley Nowe, a certified fitness trainer and nutrition coach who got into sharing her postpartum recovery routine on social media after the difficult birth of her

now 9-year-old twins, became a home-fitness influencer during the shutdown and boasts over 350,000 followers on Instagram.

She now operates a website, GetMomStrong.com, offering her home-fitness videos by subscription (ranging from $28.99 per month to $199.99 annually), and recently launched a mobile app, SLAM. The acronym stands for “Strong Like a Mother.”

Nowe said her homebased business has become so successful that her hus-

band was able to leave his job of 23 years to come work with her handling customer service. In addition to him, she employs another customer service rep, a social media specialist, two parttime quality assurance and data entry people and two contracted Canadian-based web and app developers. On this day, she’s waiting to catch a delayed flight to Canada to meet with that part of her team, while also leading a learning retreat. “I’m serving a niche population,” said the mother

(Tucson Strength/Submitted)

“There are certain people who want to work out at home,” says Tucson Strength’s Danny Sawaya. “(But) you don’t get that feel, that vibe that you get when you go to a gym.”

(World Gym Tucson/Submitted)

World Gym Tucson opens its doors for a sneak peek party. “We were not expecting as many people as we got,” says franchise owner Phillip Krausch. “People missed the community.”

ation and massaging,” said Krausch.

Even the facility’s design is mindful of new members missing the comforts of their home gym.

“The bathrooms are more spa-like versus just looking like a regular locker room.”

of four, whose workouts are designed to help women improve conditions like diastasis recti, prolapse, incontinence, back pain and other issues that can occur postpartum. “I’m working with busy moms who don’t have a lot of time to go to the gym. I’m sure many people are returning to the gym – we all miss that social connection. But I work with moms who are so busy that a home fitness program makes a lot of sense for them.”

Gyms, too, are tweaking the programs they offer to accommodate the new wave of fitness demands that emerged during the home-workout uprising, when more people began devoting time to health and wellness.

“We put in a recovery room that allows therapy to help with muscle recovery, and we also have a cryo rejuvenation lounge and a relax pod for helpful relax-

And Tucson Strength, long known as a safe space for grunting powerlifters and competitive bodybuilders, recently introduced the relatively tamer offering of fascial strength therapy, an assisted stretching technique done on a massage table that’s become trendy.

“You’re seeing that pop up now, where there’s stretch studios that do only that,” Sawaya said. “But we have a really good therapist on staff who’s taking your body through different ranges of motion and very dynamic stretching movements, and we have athletes and everyday folks that are really enjoying it. It’s nice.”

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

Real estate transactions

Share information with Inside Tucson Business’ land transactions column. Send items to christina@tucsonlocalmedia.com.

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Inside Tucson Business Staff

CBRE has released its Q2 industrial and office figures for Tucson.

In the industrial market, vacancy decreased 50 basis points (bps) quarter-over-quarter to 3.0% in Q2 2023. The industrial market captured 415,430 square feet of gross absorption, where the strongest activity occurred in the Airport, Northwest and Southeast submarkets.

Overall net absorption

turned down in Q2 2023 to -216,740 square feet.

Construction activity remained flat with 1.8 million square feet with no deliveries in Q2 2023.

For offices, the direct average asking full-service gross (FSG) lease rate declined further to $22.54 per square foot in Q2 2023.

The market experienced 55,667 square feet of leasing activity by 18,501 square feet of positive net absorption in Q2 2023.

Vacancy decreased by

20 basis points quarter-over-quarter yet remains 360 basis points higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Sales

• Dave Volk of Volk Company represented Estrella Del Mar in the sale of its 11,271-square-foot building on 32,625 square feet of land at 3773 E. Broadway Boulevard, Tucson, for $1.25 million. The buyer was Native Music Coalition.

• Jeramy Price of Volk Company represented the purchaser, SSCW 22508 Golf Links LLC, in its $850,000 purchase of approximately 53,143 square feet of land from Lewis Family Golf Links LLC. The land, located at the southeast corner of Golf Links and Pantano, will be developed into a Super Star Car Wash. This is the fifth Super Star Car Wash transaction Price has handled in Tucson.

• 3653 E. Second Owner

LLC purchased AZ Commons, a 17,700 square foot investment property at 3653 E. Second Street in Tucson. The 30-unit apartment property was purchased from AZ Commons LLC for $2.75 million. Allan Mendelsberg and Joey Martinez, principals and multifamily specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties.

• Kingdom Culture Community Church/Friendship Church purchased

a 13,086-square-foot church and campus at 2450 S. Kolb Road, Tucson, from Abounding Grace Lutheran Church for $1.6 million. Rob Tomlinson, principal, retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller. John Harings with United Real Estate Specialists represented the buyer.

• Mister Car Wash purchased 1.22 acres of land at

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9583 W. Tangerine Road, Lot 3B, Marana from Tangerine/I-10 LLC for $1.54 million. Aaron LaPrise, principal, retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the buyer. Ben Craney with NAI represented the seller.

Leases

• First American Title Insurance Company renewed its lease with Shoppes at Oracle Rd LLC for 3,693 square feet of office space at The Shoppes at Oracle, 8500 N. Oracle Road, Suite 100, Tucson. Ryan McGregor, office specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, and Jason Palda with Cushman & Wakefield, New York, represented the tenant. Robert Nolan with Oxford Realty Advisors represented the landlord.

• Retina Associates, Southwest, PC renewed their lease with NWI Green Valley MOB LP for 3,117 square feet of office space at Green Valley Medical Mall, 1055 N. La Canada Drive, Suite 103, in Green Valley. Thomas J. Nieman, principal, office specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord. Kyle Kilgore with NAI Horizon, Tucson represented the tenant.

• Schmidt Sethi and Akmajain PC renewed its lease with WCCP Copper Point LLC, SOD Investments II LLC, and PVP Cambric LLC for 2,683 square feet of office space at Cambric Corporate Center, 1790 E. River Road, Suite 300, Tucson. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, principal, office

specialist, with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant. Philip Skillings with NAI Horizon, Tucson, represented the landlord.

• DeUVe Photonics Inc. leased 1,577 square feet of industrial space at Broadbent Business Center, 2030 N. Forbes Boulevard, Suite 102, Tucson, from Boron Properties. Alex Demeroutis, Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Jesse Blum, principal, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Beth L Vance & Niki A.E. Rowe renewed their lease with Tucson 5151 Investments LLC for 1,306 square feet of office space at 5151 E. Broadway Boulevard, Suite 730, in Tucson. Mark Isenberger with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Tucson Computer Repair Service Unlimited LLC leased 1,200 square feet at Grant Plaza, 3512 E. Grant Road. Gordon Wagner with NAI Horizon represented the landlord and Nancy Zeldin with HomeSmart Advantage Group represented the tenant in this transaction.

• ML Resale Corp, dba Plato’s Closet, leased 4,317 square feet at Tucson Spectrum Shopping Center at 5373 S. Calle Santa Cruz. Ben Craney and Jayme Fabe with NAI Horizon represented the landlord and Dave Hammack with Cushman/Wakefield PICOR represented the tenant in this transaction.

• Dr. Sharon Keene PC leased 1,558 square feet at Plaza Palomino at 2960 N. Swan Road. Ben Craney and Phil Skillings with NAI Horizon handled this transaction.

• Marana FP LLC, dba Planet Fitness Health Club, leased 18,125 square feet in Marana Marketplace at 3840 W. River Road. Ben Craney with NAI Horizon represented the tenant and Larsen Baker represented the landlord in this transaction.

• Consumer Cellular Inc. leased 3,500 square feet at Tucson Spectrum Shopping Center at 5373 S. Calle Santa Cruz. Ben Craney and Jayme Fabe with NAI Horizon represented the landlord and Joe Cosgrove with LeVRose Real Estate represented the tenant in this transaction.

• Canyon State Wireless Inc. leased 3,816 square feet at Palo Verde Business Center located at 3860 S. Palo Verde. Scott Soelter with NAI Horizon represented the tenant and Andrew Keim, Paul Hooker and Rob Glaser with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR represented the landlord in this transaction.

• Harbor Freight Tools USA leased 15,441 square feet at Rancho Vistoso Shopping Center. Ben Craney, Phil Skillings and Dave Dutson with NAI Horizon represented the landlord and David Jarand with Avison Young, Phoenix, represented the tenant in this transaction.

• Detail Lounge LLC has leased 6,750 square feet at

4011 E. Columbia, Suite 121, Tucson, from Dybvig White Mountain LLC. The tenant plans to open for business as an automotive detail shop in September.

Isaac Figueroa with Larsen Baker represented the landlord, Joey Castillo of Volk represented the tenant.

• Safelite Auto Glass leased 12,018 square feet of industrial space at 6401 S. Country Club Road, Suites 147-157 in Tucson, from APB LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord. Tom Louer with Lee & Associates Arizona Commercial Real Estate Services represented the tenant.

• Hexagon Mining Inc. leased 11,500 square feet of industrial space at Bay Colony Technology Center, 2705 E. Medina Road, Suites 101-111 in Tucson from 2705 E. Medina Properties LLC. Jesse Blum, principal, Stephen D. Cohen, principal, and Alex Demeroutis, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord. This transaction is an additional expansion for Hexagon Mining Inc., which continues to accumulate industrial square footage in Tucson.

• Climatec LLC renewed its lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 8,174 square feet of office space at North Tucson Business Center, 3895 N. Business Center Drive, Suite 100, in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial

specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord. Ryan Harder with Cushman & Wakefield, Chicago, represented the tenant.

• Boxed Services LLC renewed and expanded its lease with Central Point Tucson LLC for a combined 6,665 square feet of space at Central Point Business Plaza, 3961 E. Speedway Boulevard, Suites 414-415, and 3959 E. Speedway Boulevard, Suite 310-313 in Tucson. Molly Gilbert, office specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Continental Shade Designs sublet 5,000 square feet of industrial space at 3761 E. 43rd Place in Tucson, from Distribution International Inc. Stephen D. Cohen, principal, and Briclyn Chase, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, and Michael Linder with Colliers International, represented the landlord.

Andrew Keim, industrial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant.

• ZEROREZ of Tucson LLC renewed its lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 4,400 square feet of industrial space at Ruthrauff Commerce Center, 2450 W. Ruthrauff Road, Suite 130-160 in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Priority One Injury Services LLC leased 3,082 square feet of space at 5102 E. Fifth Street, Tucson, from H.L.F. Properties Inc. Andy Seleznov, CCIM, retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties.

• Jerry Bob’s Restaurant leased 2,511 square feet of restaurant space at Eastpoint Marketplace, 6970 E. 22nd Street, Suite A106 in Tucson, from Eastpoint Kolb Additional Investors LLC. Retail specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR handled this transaction. Greg Furrier, principal, and Natalie Furrier represented the landlord. Aaron LaPrise, principal, represented the tenant.

• Bespoke Skin Boutique leased 2,317 square feet of retail space at Paloma Village Center, 6360 N. Campbell Avenue, Suites 150 and 160 in Tucson, from Paloma Village DE LLC. Natalie Furrier, retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona renewed its lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner

• Reliance Commercial Construction Inc. renewed its lease with Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC for 3,902 square feet of industrial space at Broadbent Business Center, 2015 N. Forbes Boulevard, Suite 108, in Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

Allegra Marketing launches ‘Funding Five’ campaign

By Inside Tucson Business Staff

Allegra Marketing Print

Mail, a Tucson marketing, print and direct mail provider, launched its nationwide sweepstakes titled “Funding Five.”

Focused on supporting local small to mid-size businesses in the communities

Allegra serves, Funding Five will provide five winning

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LLC for 2,000 square feet of space at Town Central Business Park, 5011 and 5009 E. 29th Street, Tucson. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Merry Maids leased 1,545 square feet of retail space at Campbell Plaza, 2816 N. Campbell Avenue in Tucson, from DSW IREIF Tucson Retail Owner LLC.

Dave Hammack, principal, Greg Furrier, principal, and Natalie Furrier, retail specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord. Joseph Castillo with Volk Company represented the tenant.

• Patriot House Antiques renewed its lease with CAS Real Property LP for 1,320 square feet of retail space at Placita Del Norte, 5827 N. Oracle Road, Tucson.

businesses with $500 to use toward print and marketing services. The goal of the campaign is to help the winning businesses expand awareness and build loyalty among their local customers with Allegra’s community-minded expertise behind them.

“We are honored to be a part of this campaign and support local businesses in

Natalie Furrier, retail specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

our community,” said Dave Haase, owner of Allegra Auburn.

“We understand the challenges that community businesses face, especially in the early stages of operations and building awareness. That’s why we are committed to providing high-quality solutions and resources to help them succeed. This campaign

is a true reflection of our unwavering commitment to backing our local entrepreneurs. When our center teams up with local businesses, there’s an opportunity for immense positive impact on our community.”

services, including mailers, email design, marketing services and/or promotional items, will be beneficial for growing their business.

finishing services, mailing services, variable data capabilities, promotional products and print management solutions.

• New Stylos LLC renewed its lease with NAI Investments LLC for 1,200 square feet of retail space at Plaza Azteca in Tucson. Denisse Angulo, commercial specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Formidable Toys LLC leased 1,200 square feet of industrial space at Exchange Place Business Center, 1870 W. Prince Road, Suite 56 in Tucson, from Pegasus Tucson Owner LLC. Paul Hooker, SIOR, principal, and Andrew Keim, industrial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Tracey Webber Insurance & Financial Services Inc renewed its lease with FJM Merced Associates LP for 876 square feet of industrial space at Ajo/Evans Business Park, 1100 E. Ajo Way, Suite 206, Tucson, from FJM Merced Associates LP. Alex Demeroutis and Andrew Keim, indus-

trial specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord.

• Andreas Castillo and Joey Castillo of Volk Company represented the landlord, Ideal Tucson Holdings LLC, in its lease of approximately 8,250 square feet of land and 5,975 square feet of building improvements located at 4722 S Tennessee Place to Shouman Import LLC.

• Jeramy Price of Volk Company represented the tenant, Serial Grillers 3 LLC in its lease of approximately 1,814 square feet of office space at 7620 N. Hartman Lane, Suite 172 from CC Park LLC. for its new corporate office.

• Andreas Castillo and Jeramy Price of Volk Company represented the landlord, RRL Inc., in its lease of approximately 700 square feet of space located at 2914 E. 22nd Street to Marisol Cruz. The tenant plans to open Botanica Sol, an herbal health and wellness boutique. ITB

Funding Five entries are due by Monday, Aug. 14. To enter, small to mid-sized businesses (less than 5 years old) can visit the Allegra website at allegramarketingprint.com/funding-five and complete an entry form.

To be considered for a winning prize, local business owners or those representing them must provide details on how Allegra

Those who are selected may be asked to provide proof of ownership, an EIN number, and have a brickand-mortar location. The sweepstakes is limited to one entry per business.

Allegra Marketing Print Mail is a full-service marketing and print communications provider with inhouse capabilities including marketing consultation and graphic design services, advanced printing technologies including wide-format printed graphics, complete

Allegra is locally owned and operated and is a member of the Alliance Franchise Brands network, a world leader in marketing, graphics and visual communications, with locations in the United States and Canada.

To learn more about Allegra Marketing Print Mail and the Funding Five Sweepstakes including complete rules, terms and conditions, visit allegramarketingprint.com/funding-five. ITB

3rd Location

Open

Tucson Trades serves as a catalyst for local economy

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Inside Tucson Business Staff

Travis Freeman has participated in markets around town, but none were really the right fit.

So, he created his own. The first Tucson Trades Indoor Vendor Market will bring 100 local sellers to the Tucson Convention Center from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 29.

“I came up with the idea and concept by being a vendor at other markets in the past,” said Freeman, who owns Healthful Flowers, a Tucson CBD dispensary.

“At the other markets, something always tends to arise — heat, wind or cold. There’s always some sort of environmental issue.”

Even indoor markets didn’t work for him, as they often had limited space or poor lighting.

“It dawned on me that by having a previous relationship with TCC, it would be the best place to host a large market,” Freeman said. “The biggest part of that was figuring out if vendors would be willing to sign on to something that large.

“We immediately got a big, big, big response. People have been looking for something like this for a long time.”

From handmade crafts and artisanal goods to culinary treats and innovative technology, the market will be impressive, Freeman said. Among the food vendors is Ducky’s Pineapple Banana Bread.

“Ducky’s Pineapple Banana Bread is hard to come by and it sells out quickly,” the Catalina High School graduate said.

“They’re bringing extra loaves. I have a lot of bakers who are coming with special dishes and treats.”

The world’s first nonprofit tattoo and body piercing shop, Spark Project Collective will be there as well. The staff will offer flash tattoos starting at $20.

Speaking of nonprofits, Arizona Rescue Life will host dog adoptions. The metaphysical supply store, Aquamarine Daydream, will bring crystals and gemstones.

The Community Investment Corporation, an economic development nonprofit dedicated to the empowerment of Pima County residents and the surrounding area since 1996, will show the small businesses how to acquire loans.

Providing the soundtrack to the event will be local musicians and performers.

“This event is going to be fantastic,” he said. “We’re going to have so many different things to offer people. We have a little bit from every industry. There’s not going to be an overabundance of one thing. It’s not industry specific. Events that are industry specific, the cost point to get in there is pretty high for the vendors.

“Our vendor fee was not very high.”

The key was to not interfere with the timing of the

Fourth Avenue Street Fair. Freeman is working around those dates and creating a market when business slows down a bit — in July and January — after Christmas and in the summer when the students are gone.”

If Tucson Trades is successful, Freeman said he hopes to one day host up to 400 vendors under one roof. After all, it’s beneficial

to all involved, he added.

“This event not only offers a fantastic shopping experience but also serves as a catalyst for economic growth and community connection,” he said. “By supporting local businesses, attendees can contribute directly to the success and sustainability of Tucson’s ecosystem.”

Tucson Trades Indoor Vendor Market

WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 29

WHERE: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, Tucson

COST: Free admission

INFO: tucsontrades.com

(Noelle Haro-Gomez/Contributor)

Photographed at the UA’s Arizona Sands Club, Travis Freeman of Healthful Flowers, a Tucson CBD dispensary, created Tucson Trades Indoor Vendor Market. He’s recruited 100 vendors from the area to share and sell their wares. It’s set for Saturday, July 29, at the Tucson Convention Center.

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AGING WELL Wellness Coaching: A Winning Strategy

People have found success working with life coaches and career coaches… why not wellness coaches?

“Wellness coaching taught me how to stop being paralyzed by what I knew I had to do; it o ered a way to begin to be more responsible for my own well-being,” says Sandy Briney, a resident at Splendido, a Life Plan Community for those 55 and better in Oro Valley.

Splendido began o ering wellness coaching to interested residents in 2021. The program was designed by Mather Institute (the research area of one of Splendido’s parent organizations) along with researchers from Wake Forest University and Virginia Tech. Sandy was among the first to try the program, which has been facilitated by Galina Wood, Splendido’s Wellness Resource Nurse.

During the nine-week program, each of a small group of residents is invited to engage in a process of self-discovery

way.”

While resident participants find the coaching valuable, the group bonding is perhaps the most valuable component of the program. “I’ve led three programs so far, and in each of them, many participants have opted to continue meeting on their own to keep the discussion going on wellness topics,” says Galina.

every two weeks for informal discussions about “trying to deal with where each of us is in life,” Jon says. “We call ourselves ‘Vegas,’ because what’s said in the group, stays in the group. We’ve gained a level of intimacy that only happens over time.”

with their wellness coach. The coach, like Galina, is a Splendido team member who is trained in therapeutic coaching skills that can support the resident’s motivation to focus on personal wellness goals, build upon strengths, and develop skills for enhancing specific aspects of wellness and lifestyle balance. They then complete workbook activities, as well as meet in individual and small-group

coaching sessions. “The coaching doesn’t tell you what to do; it o ers ways to see where you’re stuck, and o ers ways to move forward. It gives you tools to manage,” explains Sandy.

Goals can be anything— an aspect of physical health such as diet, or focusing on your spirituality, or being better organized. “I was rather surprised when, after considering di erent areas

of wellness, I chose vocational,” says Esther Pasalis, who was also in the first wellness coaching group. Vocational wellness involves gaining satisfaction from work, volunteering, or hobbies. “It was eye-opening to me to realize how important writing was to me. During the coaching, I set aside time to write every day.

Since then, I’ve realized that other things fulfill that need for achievement in the same

Sandy says the support is valuable: “We formed a mini-community. It’s always powerful to hear other people’s stories, even if their focus is not your own. It’s useful—and it’s lovely—to get to know other people and learn what they are facing.”

Jon and Carolyn Leonard had recently moved to Splendido when they participated in wellness coaching. Jon says, “In our group of nine, most of us were new to Splendido, so that became a focus of the group. It was helpful to orient us to the community.” Today, many of those group members have committed to meet

Galina says that some coaching graduates have recently started a new resident-led Wellness Leadership Group. “They plan to carry forth the positive outcomes they experienced to the general population at Splendido,” she says.

A program designed to help a handful of individuals meet their personal wellness goals has evolved into ever-expanding connections that could end up benefiting many others at Splendido. That’s a coaching win!

Interested in learning more about Splendido? For floor plans, photos, and information on upcoming events, visit splendidotucson.com.

Pima Council on Aging awarded $130K from Mercy C.A.R.E.S.

By Inside Tucson Business Staff

For 56 years, Pima Council on Aging (PCOA) has been dedicated to inclusive, innovative, and integrated services that meet the changing needs of Pima County’s older adults.

“We do this through a network of programs and services that we provide directly as well as through partnerships with community partners,” said W. Mark Clark, president and CEO of PCOA.

“This work is only possible with the support of our funders, donors, and volunteers.”

Two of its especially impactful programs to the region — Dementia Capable Southern Arizona Memory Cafés and Visibility Matters — got a boost in recent weeks, both earning Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grants, together totaling more than $130,000.

“Mercy C.A.R.E.S. stands for Community Action Resources Education and Service and is Mercy Care’s community giving initiative,” said Cindy Leach, Mercy Care vice president of long-term care.

“These Community Reinvestment grants support non-profit organizations working to advance health equity across Arizona.”

According to Leach, each year grants are awarded to strategic projects, with measurable outcomes, that demonstrate tangible, positive impact to the community and align with one or more of Mercy Care’s com-

munity health focus areas, which are: managing chronic conditions, supporting mental health and well-being, addressing housing security, and empowering recovery from substance use.

Dementia Capable Southern Arizona Memory Cafés

Memory Cafés through Dementia Capable Southern Arizona, anchored at PCOA, launched in 2021 amid COVID-19.

“Arizona is in many ways ground zero for dementia. Today, it is the fourth leading cause of death among the older population in our state,” Clark said. “Dementia touches all of us, me included.”

An Arizona native, Clark grew up very close to his grandmother and her third husband, who he considered his grandfather in all the ways that matter.

“My grandfather was an amazing man, a mentor and inspiration to me in so many ways,” Clark said. “But by middle school, it was clear he was living with progressing memory loss. Soon, he was barely leaving the house, leading to feelings of isolation for both him and my grandmother.”

Clark’s family story is an all-too-common one today, and one PCOA is determined to change.

“We already contract with more than a dozen home health partners to help care for those living with dementia in their homes,” Clark said. “But we saw a clear gap in care and the need to increase the capacity of what

we do for these individuals and their families.”

Enter the Dementia Capable Southern Arizona Memory Cafés.

“In explaining to people what these cafés are, we first like to talk about what they are not,” said program director Harbhajan Khalsa. “They are not support groups. They are not medical visits. They are not respite for caregivers. They are a space for connection.”

According to Khalsa, these memory cafés are a safe space for socialization and community, both for those living with dementia and their families.

“We want our participants to leave their diagnosis at the door and come

light snacks, drinks, music and sometimes third-party entertainment, ranging from speakers to musicians.

“We host the cafés once or twice a month, but they have grown so quickly that we have been working hard to expand. The Mercy C.A.R.E.S. grant will allow us to open two additional locations with partners over the next six months,” Khalsa said.

Visibility Matters

PCOA has been providing LGBTQIA+ training since 2012 and created their signature curriculum, Visibility Matters, in 2020. It covers the challenges and barriers LGBTQIA+ older adults face when accessing aging-related care and services.

in-home care providers, case managers, or anyone serving older adults in Pima County,” Clark said.

It trains caregivers and leadership, focusing on educating and empowering them on how to best make LGBTQIA+ residents feel safe in their care.

“Older adults who identify as LGBTQIA+ often report that when the time comes for them to move into a nursing or care facility, they feel as if they have to go back in the closet,” Clark said. “Imagine that plus having any type of cognitive loss, especially dementia.”

together to create connections with others, all while in a safe space surrounded by others in the same boat as well as professionals that are trained to help should anything come up,” Khalsa said. “Folks experiencing memory loss often become isolated and lonely, as do their caregivers, so these cafés are critical to so many of our social and emotional needs.”

There is no cost to attend a café, and PCOA does not require proof of diagnosis. Currently, there are two Memory Cafés through Dementia Capable Southern Arizona: one at La Posada Green Valley and one at The Katie Dusenberry Healthy Aging Center. Both offer

Understanding the invisibility of aging LGBTQIA+ people and the discrimination faced by this community are the foundation of Visibility Matters training.

A dementia-specific edition was added to the suite of trainings in 2021. Visibility Matters-Dementia Edition is the most comprehensive training in PCOA’s LGBTQIA+ suite of trainings. While Visibility Matters gives providers the knowledge and tools to better serve LGBTQIA+ older adults, the dementia edition has a specific focus on the unique challenges of dementia in LGBTQIA+ communities.

“Through this program, we provide comprehensive trainings for long-term care facilities, medical professionals, senior centers,

Visibility Matters offers proven methodology and models to educate staff and skilled caregivers. This training helps providers gain the tools and skills needed to create a safe place for LGBTQIA+ people to be their authentic selves. It also takes a deep dive into specific vulnerabilities of LGBTQIA+ older adults as it relates to end-of-life care planning, palliative care, and hospice care.

“The Mercy C.A.R.E.S. grant is not only helping us continue this program, but to fund a model with an enhanced focus on those with memory loss as well as develop updated materials that have both diversity and inclusivity,” Clark said.

“It will also allow us to update our training videos and other technologies as it relates to Visibility Matters and provide a ‘what’s next’ road map for providers beyond the initial training.”

Info: 520-790-7262, pcoa.org

(Mercy Care/Submitted)

Cindy Leach is Mercy Care’s vice president of long-term care.

Mid-year house trends show a dramatic slowdown

By Gregory Richmane Inside Tucson Business Columnist

As in life, things are constantly changing in the real estate market.

We’ve been through some extraordinary years in the recent past with challenges, surprises, rapid growth in sales volume, extraordinarily low housing inventory, incredibly low interest rates, job growth, imminent recession, COVID-19, and, yes, employment expansion as well.

We’ve seen political strife. We’ve seen stock market swings. We’ve seen it all! And, yes, we’re going to see more change. This year’s real estate market is in stark contrast to last year’s.

2023 has been marked by a dramatic slowdown in real estate activity. The yearto-date decline in closed transactions in Tucson is 24%, in Oro Valley is 17%, in Marana is 8%, in Vail is 17%, in Sahuarita is 24%, in Green Valley is 29%, in SaddleBrooke is 19%, and in Cochise County is 26%.

New listings are down in a similar fashion. Inventory — or should I say lack of inventory — is part of the issue. Also, mortgage interest rates are a part of the issue. Though the economy shows signs of doing well, economic uncertainty is also a big part of the issue. There are myriad factors contributing to the dramatic slowdown of real estate activity in 2023.

In the general Tucson area, the median price of a home is up to $360,000. In

comparison to other metropolitan areas, the Tucson area is still a “bargain.” This should be a continuing positive factor driving real estate activity back up. Oro Valley and SaddleBrooke are the only Tucson areas that have seen a decline in median home value with values of 16% and 9% dropping, respectively.

Prognostications vary widely on the direction of the real estate market. Overall, slow and steady upward trends in prices and volume seem to be the consensus. Bottom line is Tucson-area home prices are continuing to trend up.

Homes are selling at very close to list price. This allows sellers to make concessions, if they so choose, to buyers such as mortgage interest rate buydowns which help with affordability.

Buyers should be prepared to act quickly in this market. It is a seller’s market again. We’re seeing re-

flections of a year or two ago when well-priced homes would sell very quickly with multiple offers.

Sellers should be careful to not overprice their home and be willing to work with buyers as I said earlier. Seller concessions, particularly toward mortgage interest rate buydowns, can play a large role in selling one’s home in the shortest amount of time possible at the best price.

The Tucson-area real estate market, though much slower than it was previously, is still strong in my opinion. Predictions are mostly positive. The Tucson area enjoys relatively low prices, low real estate taxes, great employment opportunities, low cost-of-living, plentiful recreational opportunities, and offers a great lifestyle. I feel this bodes well for Tucson-area real estate. ITB

Gregory Richman is an associate broker at Long Realty Company. He can be reached at 520-248-1239 or grichman@ richmantucsonhomes.com. His websites are tucsonarizrealestate. com, richmantucsonhomes.com and maranahomesaz.com

Coffee is a tradition for Savaya founder

By Karen Schaffner Inside Tucson Business Staff

When Turkey native Burc Maruflu moved to town, he went looking for a cup of coffee.

He didn’t find exactly what he wanted, so he founded his own coffee shop on Broadway and Craycroft. Seventeen years later, six Savaya Coffee Markets testify to Maruflu’s success with producing not just a good cup of joe, but an excellent cup.

“At the time, I was teaching entrepreneurship at the university when I came here and I always source and drink good coffee,” he said.

“When I came to town, I just needed to source what I am comfortable with. The specialty coffee was not how it is today. I’m, in a way, a curious person and I’m not usually satisfied with what we have so I look for ways to improve the conditions (because) we do matter to the trade that we have and also to the people who are making it happen. (Those) people’s reality is very important to me.”

A morning cup of joe is more than coffee, he said. At Savaya, its history, culture, farmers and farmhands, importers and exporters, and brewers and tasters that are in that cup.

Maruflu is acutely aware of how important each person is in the line of getting coffee to his stores.

“My concentration in the field of entrepreneurship is in social entrepreneurship,” he said.

(Karen Schaffner/Staff)

Burc Maruflu shows off the equipment he uses to score coffee quality, something he is licensed to do according to worldwide standards.

“It’s not about how you’ve made it but the skill of how you give it back…When I look at the coffee supply chain, this is a product that starts in the farms and farm work is not easy. There’s a lot of risk that the farmers take, and as a result, when I look at the industry from the bird’s eye, it’s not a fair distribution. They shoulder most of the work, they receive less of the pie. That had to change.”

“We do things so differently than everybody else,” Savaya director Crystal Diem added. “Our mind is on truly taking care of our farmers and our employees.”

This is important, Maruflu said, not just from a humanitarian point of view but being equitable with the profits helps ensure a better and more reliable crop and future crop.

From planting to harvest, it takes three to five years to grow coffee. A farmer then has to hire workers, who are

in short supply, to pick the coffee “cherries.” Seasonal workers, who are expensive, are hard to come by so some farmers keep them on staff all year. This costs money. Then, because the beans can expire, farmers cannot negotiate. Further, if farmers are not making money, there is no motivation for the next generation to take up the plow.

Maruflu, therefore, has a relationship with the farmers who grow his beans. He is licensed to score coffee quality according to a worldwide standard.

His small office is peppered with scales, grinders, tools and cups. He is very particular about the quality of what he serves.

He said coffee is rated from one to 100, one being the poorest quality and 100 being the best quality. In his shops, he does not sell any coffee with less than an 86 rating, something hard to attain, he said.

Still, because he is

samples from Yemen; they were rated 91. The rating is rare.

To acquire high-ranking coffee, Maruflu visits with farmers.

licensed to score coffee, samples are sent to him. He recently received coffee

“What I do is I travel the entire world, go to the coffee farms,” he said. “I do lots of field work. Coffee quality is very much impacted by the practices, so I go around the world and make sure these coffees are produced in a way that, first of all, (the farmers) are motivated to have quality production, and then the other thing is I want them to be rewarded for their care for quality.”

Coffee runs through his

family’s veins. The drink is central to Turkish culture, as the country is where coffee as a beverage was invented in the 1500s, he said. His grandmother was a big influence.

“I learned coffee from my grandmother, who was very popular for her brewing skills,” he said. “She had a very unique approach to coffee roasting and brewing. When she first brewed coffee (for) Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, (the founder of modern Republic of Turkey), he really praised her a lot, and when he visited her

LOW DOWN PAYMENTS

SAVAYA

hometown several years after he specifically asked for her to brew him coffee. He really loved his coffee. He was a smoker but also a very heavy coffee drinker, and he knew his coffee.”

In his position, Atatürk could have anyone’s coffee. He loved her coffee so much he gave her a nickname, which translates to “The young lady who brews Atatürk’s favorite coffee.” It’s carved into her headstone.

“Growing up, seeing how she brewed coffee, how she roasted coffee, that stayed with me as a background,” Maruflu said.

Of course, now he uses

modern technology and techniques to roast and brew his coffee. In fact, the beans he imports are roasted at Savaya’s Tanque Verde Road location.

Something very important to Maruflu and his product is purity. He wants his customers to taste coffee in its purest form, without the additives, the sugars, the flavors and the dairy.

He wants guests to experience all the taste notes— butter, oranges, apples, chocolate. Depending on where the coffee is grown and what was used to grow it, there are lots of taste notes to experience.

“This is a product that can be tasting incredible if the necessary attention is given,” Maruflu said. “When

this product can be tasted by itself, it’s so incredible; it has so many flavors, flavors and notes packed into this that the consumer, when they enjoy it by itself, a whole new world opens up as a result. That drink without added extra calories or artificiality, becomes something healthy to consume.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 (Karen Schaffner/Staff)

Burc Maruflu looks over the literature that came with these samples of Yemen coffee. One sample scored 91 out of 100, a rare high score.

Diem can attest to that. She came from the coffee-drinking city of Seattle but hadn’t experienced pure coffee until she came to Savaya.

“Come and have coffee,” Diem said. “It’s a totally different experience and you’re learning that coffee can be enjoyed black. There are nuances and flavors in the coffee that you want to taste. You don’t want to cover it up with creamer. You don’t want to cover it up with the sweeteners and different things. Having that basic cup of coffee with a really good pastry, it’s re-

ally different.”

If customers find they don’t like a particular brew, come back in a few months. Because the coffee industry is fluid and dynamic, Savaya has new coffees to try out every few months.

Maruflu and Diem said they believe Savaya’s tagline says it all. When you come to Savaya, you “taste coffee for the first time,” Diem said. ITB

(Karen Schaffner/Staff)

Matthew Hovson has worked for Savaya Coffee Market for six years, so he knows his coffee. He works at the Swan Road location.