Che’s Lounge, 350 N. Fourth Ave., is part of the β€œToo Soon Arizona” campaign that argues the state is not ready to reopen businesses.

Plenty of Tucson restaurants on Monday flipped on the β€œOpen” sign and welcomed diners inside for the first time in nearly two months since the coronavirus closed their doors.

But dozens of their colleagues, including Janos Wilder’s Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails and Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizzeria, have publicly announced they have no immediate plans to reopen.

Not only are they sitting it out for now, they have joined the β€œToo Soon Arizona” campaign opposed to reopening the economy until there is a significant drop in the state’s coronavirus cases.

"We're tough as saguaros," editorial cartoonist David Fitzsimmons says. He says he saw a video made for the people of Detroit and became inspired to do his own take for Tucson.

β€œWe feel proceeding incautiously with the reopening of businesses will worsen human suffering in our communities and prolong the negative impact this pandemic is having on small businesses and the economy,” β€œToo Soon Arizona” organizers wrote on the campaign’s website (toosoonarizona.com).

Tucson businesses that are part of the movement include 5 Points Market & Restaurant, Bisbee Breakfast Club, Kingfisher, Barefoot Studio, Movement Culture, The Coronet & Fonda la Hermanita, Renee’s Organic Oven, Monsoon Chocolate, Gourmet Girls Gluten Free Bakery/Bistro, Che’s Lounge, Wooden Tooth Records, Tucson Hop Shop and more.

β€œWe miss you all terribly! We will not be reopening until we can safely do so for our customers and employees. As soon as we have a date, we will let you know and can’t wait to see your faces! Or at least your eyes,” Danny’s Baboquivari Lounge on East Fort Lowell Road posted on Facebook Monday afternoon.


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Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com or 573-4642. On Twitter @Starburch