ICYMI: A unique Tucson events space is finally swinging open the doors to more public gatherings.
Cathalena E. Burch Nancy Bender hosted her first public event in nearly two years at her Whistle Stop Depot last weekend, a trial for having more community events at the 5,500-square-foot former warehouse.
First and foremost, she wanted to get in on the ground floor of what she saw as an inevitable: Downtown Tucson in 2007 was on the verge of incredible growth, which she was witnessing from her first downtown venture, a four-plex she bought in Armory Park. Problem was the city wanted to be rid of the eyesore. The original owner of the building, which dates to 1950 or so, never complied with any city building codes. The building had no running water, for example, and was uninhabitable by city standards.
Reclaimed and repurposedSaving the building was a nice sentiment, but actually doing it was a test of true patience.That’s how long it took her and her crew of mostly volunteer artisans and craftsmen, including Bender’s ex Carlton White, to reimagine and rebuild the old warehouse. A fire all but destroyed it on the very day Bender was closing escrow in 2008; fire officials later labeled it arson.
Beers, hard seltzers and other adult beverages are stored in a medical specimens refrigerator that Bender scored for $500.
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