Anita Street Market Receives $50,000 National Grant to Preserve Tucson Landmark
TUCSON, Ariz. (August 27, 2025) – Anita Street Market at 849 N Anita Ave. in Tucson is a cornerstone of Barrio Anita and one of Tucson’s most beloved family-run businesses. It was recently awarded a $50,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program.
The announcement is particularly significant as Anita Street Market is the first Tucson business to receive this national recognition, highlighting its cultural and historic importance not just to the neighborhood, but to the entire city.
A Tucson Legacy at Risk
For more than 40 years, Anita Street Market has been known for its handmade tortillas, burritos, and red chili sauce, served from a modest building that dates back to the 1930s, when it first operated as a Chinese grocery store. In the 1980s, Mario and Grace Soto purchased the property and built it into the neighborhood mainstay that continues today under the leadership of their granddaughter, Grace.
In recent years, the market has faced steep challenges. In late 2023, foreclosure proceedings threatened to close the property, and it was scheduled for auction earlier this summer. That auction has since been postponed, but the risk of losing the business loomed heavily.
The grant funding provides a crucial lifeline. “This grant is more than financial help—it’s recognition that Anita Street Market is part of Tucson’s cultural fabric,” said Grace. “We are grateful to the community and to the National Trust for seeing the value in what we’ve built here.”
How the Grant Will Be Used
The $50,000 award can support a wide range of improvements, from facade restoration and lighting upgrades to murals, signage, and outdoor seating—projects that can both preserve the building’s historic character and improve its long-term sustainability. The program also provides one year of waived ResyOS fees, an American Express-owned restaurant management platform.
Since 2020, the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program has distributed more than $8 million to 180 historic eateries across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The goal: to preserve small restaurants that embody community history, food culture, and neighborhood identity.
More Than a Restaurant
For many Tucsonans, Anita Street Market represents more than just tortillas and burritos—it’s a symbol of heritage and resilience in a neighborhood that has seen both challenges and revitalization.
“Restaurants like Anita Street Market tell the stories of our communities,” the National Trust said in announcing the 2025 grantees. “They are more than businesses; they are living landmarks.”
With this national recognition and financial support, Anita Street Market now has a stronger chance to preserve its place in Tucson’s Barrio Anita and continue serving generations to come.