Downtown Tucsonan - January 2008 - (Page 9)

Vital Signs F o st e r i n g a C u lt u r a l Beehive on the East End Richard Oseran by Lee Allen usinessman/developer/entrepreneur Richard oseran continues to successfully connect the dots where he feels most at home on the east end of downtown. “I never wanted to be the big fish in the pond,” he says. “I just wanted to secure enough of the pond so I’d be able to swim in it.” since the third-generation arizonan moved here from Phoenix in 1963, he has continued to blaze new trails. as an attorney, he practiced for many years, even arguing before the united states supreme court, before retiring from the practice of law a year ago. In the interim, he became owner of Hotel congress, a twostory landmark built in 1919 (as a three-story building, with the third story destroyed in the 1934 fire that resulted in the capture of John dillinger’s gang) and called the last surviving historic hotel in downtown. “I had friends, artisans, and craftspeople moving downtown in the early 1980s and the hotel opportunity presented itself. I didn’t fully understand or appreciate why I was getting involved, but I’ve always had confidence in creative types and have worked with them to help guide their vision. they frequented our place. we depended on their support. consequently we’ve become something of an urban cultural hub with a role of serving the arts community and we’ve served each other quite well.” the hotel, originally built to serve road-weary cattle barons and southern Pacific railroad passengers, has become an amalgam of things to see and do and in the process has turned into a bit of an icon for world travelers. stories of ghostly figures of former guests are told with relish. the tap Room has provided suds and solace for nearly 90 years, while newer innovations, like the 1985 addition of club congress, the cup café in 1990, and the Room (banquet facility) in year 2000 draw locals and visitors alike. the Room is now known as copper Hall. “we promote the site as a unique destination property,” says oseran. “we recognize we’re not going to be successful just relying on passers-by, so creative promotions involving the arts community represent a natural marriage for us. People from all walks of life can find something here they can appreciate. creating a place where people can be entertained and enjoy themselves, where hospitality is the most important characteristic of what we do, is fulfilling professionally and a whole lot of fun in the process.” since retiring from the legal profession, oseran says the extra contemplative time allowed him to truly appreciate his love for the downtown area, the old neighborhoods, the buildings, and the barrios. “Visiting the Foothills has always felt to me like taking a vacation, but downtown has always just felt like home, so it’s natural that we’d end up here. we don’t think in terms of ‘big’, like major hotels or arena venues. we think in terms of things like the Rialto Block and the depot Plaza, working out ideas and visions to enrich the downtown community even more.” the latest vision is just across the street from his hotel at the Historic train depot on toole avenue, a vacant 4,000-square-foot space once home to the central Bistro restaurant. oseran and partners, son-in-law todd Hanley (general manager of Hotel congress), and Ross Rulney, owner of the Julian drew Building and tiburon apartments on Broadway and 5th avenue, have announced plans for a neighborhood-style eatery…and more. “we want to create a bakery, perhaps offer wood oven pizzas, a coffee counter, a wine and cheese bar. . . we envision multiple components. It would be an opportunity to create an active, fun environment which would offer goods and services needed in the downtown community. More than that, it’s an opportunity to activate a really attractive historical building that’s been lying dormant since its rehabilitation.” another important part of the plan would be a market, a downtown version of a convenience store, where day-to-day product items and foods from local growers could be purchased. “think ‘uncompromised’ food from local sustainable farmers who don’t have the time or money to certify their products as ‘organic’, but produce the best foods of all,” he says. “we’re looking at olive oil from Queen creek, meat from independent ranchers in willcox, goat cheese from small herds in tucson. we intend to focus on local products grown and raised by local people.” with little debate, the city council unanimously approved an oseran lease on the property as well as approving a free rent clause through the spring of 2011. “while we needed and appreciate the rent abatement, we feel we’re bringing life to an empty building at our own risk and expense.” the new owners reportedly spent some $150,000 to buy restaurant equipment from the central Bistro owners and plan to spend up to another half a million dollars in improvements. “the former central Bistro itself will be dramatically different,” oseran says, noting the tentative timeline will have the new market opening by april 2008. “there’s a much clearer vision and focus now on what needs to be done downtown and the latest round of activity should have a ripple effect, creating a beehive of activity in an ever-widening circle. taken together, the positive steps will have a dramatic impact on the east end of downtown and be helpful in cultivating a true public-private partnership that continues to gather strength. I see the most recent developments as a catalyst to help pop everything wide open.” b january.08. downtown tucsonan 9 http://www.creativetornado.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Downtown Tucsonan - January 2008

Downtown Tucsonan - January 2008 Contents From the Editor Downtown Lowdown Vital Signs Downtown Restaurants & Cafes Downtown Live Arts Galleries Performance Film Events Museums Historic Downtown Billboard Classifieds

Downtown Tucsonan - January 2008

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