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Tortillas in the Barrio: Anita Street Market

Wednesday, 02 February 2011 17:31

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Driving to the Barrio Historico, a center for Tucson's Mexican and Spanish community, in search of the city's best tortillas, you will find the Anita Street Market. Grace Soto, her son and her grandchildren run this tortilla factory.

According to Soto, on any weekday, they produce dozens of tortillas in the modest adobe style home. From the time the market opens at 8 a.m. until it closes at 5 p.m., Soto is busy.

On February 19, 1989, Nogales native Grace Soto and her late husband Mario Soto opened a liquor store in the Tucson Barrio. When the store first opened, liquor, beer and cigarettes were the only items sold.

Today, that store has evolved into the Anita Street Market, which is known for its burritos and tortillas. She sells corn, wheat and flour tortillas by the dozen ranging in price from $2.89 to $3.89.

Before opening the market, Soto worked for a children's center in Arizona while her husband worked in construction. One day her husband suggested they open a liquor store to help improve their income.

Soto was scared to open the store. She told her husband, "I'll try; we have no money, only liquor, beer and cigarettes."

Soto agreed to open the store. In addition to selling liquor, Soto also put out candy to attract customers.

Eventually Soto decided to sell other items besides liquor. "I didn't like selling beer because I was scared of selling it to minors."

She came up with an idea that went back to her days in Nogales. "Let's make burritos and tortillas."

Two months later, Soto started making dozens of tortillas a day. People from the Barrio came to sample Soto's Mexican specialties.

Soto describes her burrito recipe as a "Chinese secret," consisting of red chili, green chili, Manchego cheese and tomato.


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