Borderlands Brewing is bringing a brewcade to the north side 🕹

In 2010, Borderlands Brewing made its first appearance in downtown Tucson.

The 100-year-old building at 119 E. Toole Ave. was transformed into a rustic brewery complete with a giant patio where you can enjoy a margarita while listening to the trains chug on by.

Years later, Borderlands decided to expand, taking an old gas station at 2500 E. Sixth St. and giving it a classic Borderlands makeover.

Now, owner Es Teran and his gang are bringing the Borderlands flair we’ve all come to know and love to the northeast side.

It took three years, but at the end of March, Teran will open his third location, Borderlands Brewing North, in the River Center on River Road near Craycroft, serving up fan favorites from their other locations.

“It's an area that we believe we have a lot of customers,” Teran said. “It's underserved. People go to Whole Foods to go grab a pint of drinks and that's about it, unless you go all the way La Encantada or you come down into midtown.”

To give the space the classic Borderlands look, Teran had to make a lot of improvements to the new building. The space, which once housed eatery Harvest, had been empty for a while, so everything needed to be upgraded.

Since Harvest was a semi-fine dining restaurant, Teran had to make changes to better fit the Borderlands vibe, putting their own touch on the space.

“We tore down some of the benches that were there,” Teran said. “A lot of the aesthetics had to go, and we put in our own little touches.”

To make things more their speed, they added a little life to their walls, thanks to Sangre del Desierto, an art collective from Hermosillo, Sonora. In a sneak peek video they posted, you can see a giant coyote and an arcade game painted in vibrant colors along the walls.

Cacti, a neon bobcat, mountains and orangey-pink skies also cover the walls, capturing all the scenic views Tucson is known and loved for.

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“The name Borderlands means the border, the collaboration between both countries,” Teran said. “So we always try to incorporate artists from both regions and these artists have been collaborating with us since maybe 2015, when we started with our own food truck. They were also the ones that we called up to get them up here and get that Sonoran taste and influence that we all know.”

To go with the vibrant murals, Teran is bringing in arcade games so customers can have some fun while sipping on brews. The “brewcade” will feature pool tables, air hockey, foosball, shuffleboard, a couple of driving games, pinball, basketball hoops and a little lounge area where people can enjoy the games, Teran said. Plus, fan-favorite events like yoga and "Bachelor" watch parties from the other two locations will also be coming up north.

“The space is very big and you can't just put a bunch of tables and expect people to have a good time,” Teran said. “We want to make sure that it was more of a hangout spot, an enjoyable spot for people of all ages to enjoy.”

Unlike the other Borderlands Brewing, this location will be mostly indoors, which will be a nice getaway from the hot Arizona weather, Teran said. Of course, there will be a balcony so pets can come and have some fun too!

When it comes to the menu, Teran is sticking with the classics, keeping the same menu as the other two locations. For appetizers, you can order chips and salsa, queso con cerveza or chicharrones for the table. (Their chicharrones are my favorite — they are so crispy and taste even better with lime squeezed on top!)

If you’re looking for a bigger dish, you can order their enmoladas, which consist of three cheesy quesadillas topped with mole poblano, onions and sesame seeds. You can also get their Sonoran-style tacos dorados that even come with non-meat options.

“The carne asada tacos are always my favorite,” Teran said. “The recipe for the barbacoa tacos comes directly from my mom, even the hot sauce that we have available for free for people to use and try is also Mom’s recipe so it's very much a family business.”

Since the kitchen at the new location is big, Teran said they will be able to try out new recipes, using it as a stepping stone for new menu ideas. If the customers love it, they’ll add the items to the other locations too.

To wash down your meals, you are able to choose from some of their many spiked aguas frescas. With those cocktails, you can “pick your poison” and choose between horchata, jamaica, tamarindo and limonada, all spiked with your liquor of choice. Their margaritas and beers from Las Hermanas and Dillinger Brewery will also be on the menu.

Borderlands Brewing North will have a few soft openings in the beginning of March, but by the end of that month, customers will be able to sip on a spiked horchata while playing an intense game of foosball.

“We've been in business for a long time. We love our customers. We love our product,” Teran said. “We're here to stay and we want to make sure that we're serving our own community.”