Two Lane Tucson

When chefs in Tucson wanted true farmers-market quality ingredients, the big distributors couldn’t deliver.Erik Stanford saw the problem firsthand while working in restaurant kitchens. In 2015, he started Pivot Produce to connect local farms directly with restaurants across Southern Arizona. What began with just four farms and four restaurants has grown into a regional food hub supplying kitchens, schools, and households.In this conversation, Erik explains how Pivot started, how the business survived when restaurants shut down during COVID, and why building a local food system is far more complicated than most people realize.If you care about where your food comes from, or how local businesses actually get built, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at Tucson’s food economy.If you enjoyed this conversation, share it with someone who cares about Tucson businesses.Two-Lane Tucson is where we share the stories of the people building Tucson’s local businesses.

The The Loft Cinema has been part of Tucson’s film culture for more than 50 years.But it almost didn’t survive.In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, Elaine sits down with Jeff Yanc, program director at the Loft, to talk about how an independent theater stays alive when the movie industry keeps changing.They talk about the early days of the Loft in the 1970s, the moment it nearly closed before becoming a nonprofit in 2002, and how the theater survived the pandemic by turning its parking lot into an outdoor cinema.Jeff also explains how the Loft decides what films belong on its screens, why art-house theaters rely on community support, and how Tucson’s audience helped turn a small theater into a hub for film culture.This conversation is about more than movies.It’s about what it takes for a local institution to survive.If you care about Tucson businesses and the people building them, this story is for you.Two-Lane Tucson is where we share the stories of the people building Tucson’s local businesses.

Restaurants open and close in Tucson every year. Margins are thin. Costs change constantly. And even long-standing places sometimes disappear.But Kingfisher has been part of Tucson’s dining scene since 1993.In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, Elaine sits down with Chef Jacki Kuder to talk about the history behind the restaurant, why seafood works in the desert, and what it really takes to keep a restaurant running for decades.They discuss:• the story behind the Kingfisher building and its history as a Tucson restaurant• the dish that has stayed on the menu since day one• how Tucson’s dining scene has changed over the years• the rising costs and supply challenges restaurants face today• why loyal customers continue coming backJacki also shares her advice for anyone thinking about starting a business in Tucson.

Baja Café opened in Tucson in 2014 and quickly became one of the city’s busiest breakfast spots.In this episode, we talk about how the restaurant started, how the menu evolved, and what it takes to run a high-volume breakfast restaurant in Tucson.We also get into the pressure behind the scenes: long hours, tight margins, and the realities of building a restaurant people line up for.Two-Lane Tucson shares the stories behind the businesses that shape the city.

Step inside one of Tucson’s most unusual businesses.Arizona Hatters has been shaping, repairing, and restoring hats since 1935. In a small shop filled wall-to-wall with felt and straw, hats aren’t just sold; they’re rebuilt.A hat can be taken apart, cleaned, reshaped, and put back together again. Sometimes the work brings a hat back after sixty or seventy years.In this conversation, owner Max Larkin explains how the shop survived while most hat stores disappeared, what actually goes into restoring a hat, and why people still travel from across the country, and even from Mexico, to walk through the door.We also talk about the woman who quietly kept the business alive for decades, the moment the shop nearly closed, and why a place like Arizona Hatters matters to Tucson.Because sometimes a hat isn’t just a hat.Sometimes it carries a family story.Listen to the full conversation with Max Larkin of Arizona Hatters on this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, where we share the stories of the people building Tucson’s local businesses.

After six conversations with Tucson businesses and nonprofits this season, a few themes kept appearing.How do you carry forward a company with decades of history?How do organizations grow without losing their culture?What role do businesses play in shaping the community around them?This Season Two reflection revisits the ideas that surfaced across these conversations, with short clips from each interview.Featured organizations this season:B.B. Hill LandscapingTruly NolenBeyond BreadTucson Botanical GardensPop CycleBen’s BellsFull episode here: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-7-season-2-tucson-business-stories-reflection.html

If you’ve spent time in Tucson, you’ve probably seen one of the green “Be Kind” bells hanging somewhere in the community. What many people don’t know is the story behind them.Ben’s Bells began more than two decades ago after the unexpected loss of a young boy named Ben. In the year that followed, his family and friends gathered in a backyard clay studio to create ceramic bells in his memory. On the one-year anniversary of his passing, they placed 400 bells throughout Tucson as a thank you to the strangers whose small acts of kindness helped carry them through their grief.What happened next surprised everyone.Today, more than 90,000 Ben’s Bells have been placed throughout Tucson and beyond, each one meant to be discovered and kept as a reminder to practice kindness.In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, Elaine Bulawin sits down with Autumn Rentmeester and Katie Kevershan from Ben’s Bells to talk about:• how the first bells were created• how Tucson embraced the movement• how thousands of volunteers help craft the bells today• why kindness became the foundation of their education programs• and why the message of kindness continues to resonate across the communityThis conversation explores how a deeply personal story grew into one of Tucson’s most recognizable community movements.Full episode here: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-6-season-2-autumn-rentmeester-katie-kevershan.html

Pop Cycle has been part of Tucson’s Fourth Avenue scene since 2008. What started as a small studio and storefront for a few local makers has grown into a shop featuring work from more than 100 Tucson artists.In this episode, Libby Tobey shares the story behind Pop Cycle — how the store first opened, why supporting local artists became central to the business, and what it actually takes to run an independent retail shop in a historic part of the city.The conversation explores the early days of the store, the realities of managing relationships with dozens of artists, and the unexpected challenges that come with operating a creative retail space.Libby also talks about surviving major disruptions like COVID, the shift to online sales, and why physical shops that feature handmade goods still matter in an era dominated by large online marketplaces.For anyone interested in Tucson’s creative economy, small business resilience, and the people working behind the scenes to keep local retail alive, this episode offers a rare look inside one of Fourth Avenue’s most recognizable independent shops.Full episode here: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-5-season-2-libby-tobey.html

Tucson Botanical Gardens started as a small community garden tucked into a neighborhood in midtown Tucson.Today it’s one of the city’s most respected cultural institutions — a place where desert plants, art, education, and conservation come together.In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, I sit down with CEO Michelle Conklin to talk about how the Gardens grew from a local horticulture project into a destination that serves thousands of visitors every year.We talk about:• how the Gardens evolved from a neighborhood garden into a major Tucson nonprofit• the challenge of balancing conservation, education, and visitor experience• how exhibits like Butterfly Pavilion brought new audiences to the Gardens• what it takes to run a cultural institution in the Sonoran DesertMichelle also shares how the organization thinks about its role in Tucson’s future — from protecting desert biodiversity to creating spaces where people reconnect with nature.If you’ve ever walked the paths at Tucson Botanical Gardens, attended an event there, or simply wondered how a place like this survives and grows in the desert, this conversation gives you a look behind the scenes.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-4-season-2-michelle-conklin.html

Beyond Bread began as a small bakery on Campbell Avenue with a short menu, no seating, and lines that regularly stretched out the door.Over the years it grew into one of Tucson’s most recognizable locally owned food institutions.In this episode, Jane Overbey shares what it takes to operate and scale a scratch-kitchen restaurant across multiple locations while maintaining the consistency customers expect.After joining the company in 2001, Jane watched Beyond Bread evolve from a small neighborhood bakery into a multi-location operation supported by a central bread mill and a large team working behind the scenes.The conversation explores the realities customers rarely see — staffing, production logistics, food costs, delivery coordination, and the systems required to keep quality consistent across locations.Jane also discusses how Tucson’s food culture has evolved over the past two decades and why Beyond Bread has remained focused on product quality, strong teams, and disciplined execution rather than rapid expansion.Topics in this episode include:• What the original Beyond Bread shop looked like in the early 2000s• How the company expanded across Tucson• Why logistics becomes the biggest challenge as restaurants grow• Managing labor and food costs in a scratch-kitchen operation• How Beyond Bread maintains consistency across locations• The role of the Bread Mill and commissary operations• How Tucson’s restaurant scene has changed over the last 20 years• Why adaptability is essential for long-term business survivalTwo-Lane Tucson is a podcast featuring conversations with the people behind Tucson’s established local businesses.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-3-season-2-jane-overbey.html

Truly Nolen has been serving Tucson for more than 80 years, but the story starts in the Great Depression — cleaning outhouses in Miami Beach and solving whatever problem showed up next.In this episode, Michelle Nolen shares how the company grew from humble beginnings into a multi-state operation headquartered in Tucson — and why culture is the first thing that can break when a company scales.We talk about prevention over reaction, why pest control is really a relationship business, and how executive leaders still do ride-alongs in the field to stay grounded in reality.Michelle also speaks candidly about knowing when to pivot. As she put it: everything you did got you to here — but if you want to go there, you have to do something different. And usually, that decision is scary.If you’re a Tucson business owner thinking about growth, longevity, or protecting culture while evolving — this conversation is for you.Two-Lane Tucson features conversations with the people building and stewarding Tucson’s business community — one story at a time.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-2-season-2-michelle-nolen.html

In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, Christian Beltran, CEO of BB Hill Landscaping, shares what it really takes to lead and grow a commercial landscaping company in Tucson for more than two decades.Christian talks about the parts of his story most people don’t see — struggling in school, questioning his own abilities, and never imagining he would one day oversee major commercial projects across the city. He reflects on stepping into his father’s legacy, earning trust in a tight-knit community, and building a reputation that has to hold up long after the job is done.The conversation moves beyond revenue into responsibility: developing leaders from within, creating real advancement paths for crew members, and learning when to step back so others can step up.This is a candid look at growth, humility, and the kind of steady leadership that shapes a business — and a city — over time.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-1-season-2-christian-beltran.html

Season One of Two Lane Tucson brought together seven local business owners across different industries and stages of growth. From a therapeutic ranch to a mobile tire service, from a pie shop to a 30-year appliance company, each conversation revealed something deeper than tactics.In this closing reflection, I share the themes that surfaced repeatedly:• Reputation over hype• Growing carefully without losing quality• The reality of scaling• Accepting that you can’t help everyone• The connection between service and visibilityBuilding a business in Tucson takes grit, patience, and a belief in the work — even when growth feels slow.Two Lane Tucson will reopen for Season Two soon.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-8-season-one-reflection.html

For more than 30 years, Chris Edwards has run Tucson Appliance Company in direct competition with big box retailers.In this episode, we talk about what’s changed in the appliance industry, the pressure of operating in a low-margin business, and why reputation and service matter more than ever.Chris shares how he’s built over 1,000 authentic Google reviews, what it takes to lead a team of 40+, and what he hopes Tucson Appliance stands for as the third generation steps in.A conversation about durability, discipline, and building something that lasts in Tucson.Full episode page:https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-7-chris-edwards-tucson-appliance.html

In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, I’m joined by Carter Dircks, owner of Tucson Mobile Tires, a locally owned business bringing tire service directly to customers across Tucson.Carter shares how his mobile tire business works, why the on-site model makes sense for busy drivers, and what it actually looks like to run a service business that operates out in the field instead of a traditional storefront. We talk about the realities of serving customers on their schedule, the types of situations mobile tire service is best suited for, and how local demand shapes the way his business operates.This conversation also digs into the less-visible side of small business ownership — decision-making, logistics, customer expectations, and what Carter has learned by building a business designed around convenience and responsiveness.If you’re curious about:• How mobile service businesses operate• What customers expect from on-site tire service• The tradeoffs between traditional shops and mobile models• Running a local service business in Tucsonthis episode offers a grounded look at how it works in practice.Full episode page:https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-6-carter-dircks-tucson-mobile-tires.html.

Sydney Adams, owner of Sydney’s Sweet Shoppe, shares what it actually takes to grow a small, specialty food business in Tucson.What started as learning her grandmother’s pie crust recipe turned into a standalone pie shop built on craft, consistency, and community. In this conversation, Sydney talks about the less visible side of growth: mastering technique, setting boundaries around customization, pricing handmade work, managing time, and learning when it’s time to build a team.We also talk about how customers really discover her shop, why word of mouth still matters more than location, how wholesale partnerships changed the business, and what people often misunderstand about running a dessert business day to day.This episode is about growth that happens behind the scenes, not just what shows up on social media.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-5-sydney-adams-sydneys-sweet-shop.html

What happens when a veteran is days away from starting a new job and their car breaks down?In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, I sit down with Bernie Colonna, a Tucson native, U.S. Army veteran, and founder of Honor Charity—a local nonprofit built to move fast when veterans and their families are in crisis.We talk about why Honor Charity was created in response to frustration with large national nonprofits, how a 100% local, volunteer-led model actually works, and why speed, relationships, and accountability matter more than scale. Bernie shares a real story of emergency support that came together in days, not weeks, and explains how Arizona residents can use the state charitable tax credit to direct their tax dollars straight to local veterans.This conversation is about what support looks like when it stays close to home—and how care turns into action when there’s no red tape.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-4-bernie-colonna-honor-charity.html?unique=17697385465628560

What does acupuncture really look like in practice—not just in theory?In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, I sit down with Tucson acupuncturist Jessica Breton to talk about long-term, whole-body care. We cover how she found her way into acupuncture, what convinced her the work actually helps people, and why most of her practice has grown through word of mouth.Jessica shares what surprises new patients, why healing isn’t linear, and what she’s learned about building a sustainable practice without forcing herself into systems that don’t fit. We also talk about readiness—what it means when someone is truly ready to heal, not just manage symptoms.A grounded conversation about care, trust, and healing in Tucson.Full episode page:https://www.twolanetucson.com/episode-3-jessica-breton-acupuncture.html

In this episode of Two-Lane Tucson, I sit down with John Harings of Excelsior Associates to talk about real estate, relationships, and how the Tucson market has changed over time.We talk about why he stayed in real estate through the 2008 crash, how referrals actually drive long-term business, and what buyers often don’t see behind the scenes.This is a grounded conversation about experience, adaptability, and what matters when you’re building something for the long haul in Tucson.Full episode page:https://desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-2-john-harings-excelsior.html

I sit down with McKinley Madril from Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids (TRAK) to talk about how the ranch began, what it makes possible for the people they serve, and what daily life looks like behind the scenes in Tucson.Full episode page: https://www.desertskieslocalseo.com/episode-1-mckinley-madril-trak.html

This is Two-Lane Tucson, a show about the people who build and run the businesses that keep this city moving. Tucson isn’t a four-lane metropolis. Things grow differently here. Slower, steadier, more personal. That’s the point of this podcast.Two-Lane Tucson is where the real stories behind Tucson’s businesses finally get told.I’m Elaine Bulawin, and I work with local businesses every day. I see what never shows up on a Google search result or an About page. The real story usually lives behind the scenes — in the decisions, the risks, the pivots, the early mornings, and the late nights. This show documents that.Here’s what you’ll get when you listen: straight stories from Tucson owners about how they started, what they’ve learned, what surprised them, and what actually works in a city built on relationships. No gurus. No formulas. Just honest conversations about building something in a two-lane town.“Two-lane” is the metaphor for Tucson itself. We’re not Phoenix. We’re not trying to be. This is a place where businesses grow from reputation, repeat customers, and being known in the community. Less traffic, more connection. Fewer lanes, more focus.These stories matter because local businesses shape neighborhoods, employ families, sponsor teams, and keep money circulating here. When you hear what it really takes to run one, you understand the city in a different way.You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or join the email list for new episode alerts.