Nestled in a remote area just south of the UA campus is a street coined The Lost Barrio that is bursting with raw art and underground creativity. After living in Tucson for three years, I was surprised to learn about this unique and valuable area of Tucson while working on a story last year. Located on Park Avenue just south of Broadway Boulevard is a short block lined with one of a kind shops on both sides of the street, including an Asian inspired furniture and home store, a vintage home decorating warehouse, a Mexican cafe and a Hispanic home furnishing showroom, Rústica.
With every nook and cranny filled with trinkets, dishes, Catholic relics, lighting fixtures and furniture, entering Rústica is like walking right into a street shop in Southern Mexico. President Guberto Platt, who manages the shop is originally from Sonora, Mexico but came to Tucson some years ago to attend the university. He said most of the pieces in the twenty-year-old store are hand picked from Southern Mexico, but some of the shop’s over flowing merchandise comes from Peru.
Even the entryway walls are covered with brass plated mirrors, brightly colored hanging crosses and paintings. Walk up a few steps and the sight is overwhelming. Dark wood, authentic tables are covered with stacks of hand painted, intricately designed plates, bowls and cups. Armoires are filled to the brim with Oaxacan wood animal figurines, Virgin Mary paintings, and various colors of glass spheres.
Most of Rústica’s customers are looking for one of a kind, themed pieces to decorate their home. Seasoned decorators and amateurs alike flock to the Lost Barrio and Rústica in particular to search for way to bring a piece of Mexico into their homes. The authentic pieces are not going to be found in your local Roomstore showroom or even Cost Plus, and are reasonably priced considering how valuable they can be for a homeowner looking for just the right thing.
Only in a place like Tucson could you find a showroom that brings Mexico to us without the inconvenience or expense of travel and shipping. Every inch of the store from the walls to the ceiling to the furniture houses trinkets to treasure. It will take some effort but the work is well worth the pay off if you really want your place to stand out.
Rustica is located at 200 South Park Avenue
520-623-4435
The LA Times wrote an article about the Lost Barrio Disrict April 9, 2006. You can find it on their website latimes.com
With every nook and cranny filled with trinkets, dishes, Catholic relics, lighting fixtures and furniture, entering Rústica is like walking right into a street shop in Southern Mexico. President Guberto Platt, who manages the shop is originally from Sonora, Mexico but came to Tucson some years ago to attend the university. He said most of the pieces in the twenty-year-old store are hand picked from Southern Mexico, but some of the shop’s over flowing merchandise comes from Peru.
Even the entryway walls are covered with brass plated mirrors, brightly colored hanging crosses and paintings. Walk up a few steps and the sight is overwhelming. Dark wood, authentic tables are covered with stacks of hand painted, intricately designed plates, bowls and cups. Armoires are filled to the brim with Oaxacan wood animal figurines, Virgin Mary paintings, and various colors of glass spheres.
Most of Rústica’s customers are looking for one of a kind, themed pieces to decorate their home. Seasoned decorators and amateurs alike flock to the Lost Barrio and Rústica in particular to search for way to bring a piece of Mexico into their homes. The authentic pieces are not going to be found in your local Roomstore showroom or even Cost Plus, and are reasonably priced considering how valuable they can be for a homeowner looking for just the right thing.
Only in a place like Tucson could you find a showroom that brings Mexico to us without the inconvenience or expense of travel and shipping. Every inch of the store from the walls to the ceiling to the furniture houses trinkets to treasure. It will take some effort but the work is well worth the pay off if you really want your place to stand out.
Rustica is located at 200 South Park Avenue
520-623-4435
The LA Times wrote an article about the Lost Barrio Disrict April 9, 2006. You can find it on their website latimes.com
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