Boxyard on 4th Avenue, Tucson

The Boxyard, at 238 N. Fourth Ave., aims to open by the end of the year. It will feature four restaurants and two bars with communal dining.

Half of the boxcars that will house a future dining and entertainment venue on Fourth Avenue have arrived. The Boxyard, at 238 N. Fourth Ave. (it's that empty lot south of the foam and fabric place), will feature four restaurants and two bars with communal dining.

The area will also have open space for events such as yoga classes and concerts, said Brenndon Scott, one of the developers. 

At the request of some neighbors, an old building on the site was preserved and will be incorporated in the finished project.

Scott expects to announce the restaurants soon and hopes to be open for business by the end of the year.

The proposed Boxyard at 238 N. Fourth Ave. in Tucson, will offer a food service through the four shipping container stations.

The use of boxcars for restaurants and bars has grown in popularity around the country in the past few years, industry analysts say, because of their unique appearance.

The inspiration for the project came from visiting other boxcar venues around the country.

“The rise in popularity of shipping-container concepts underscores our competitive and quick-changing society,” says Trend Hunter, a website that tracks trends. “The temporary nature of these shops is a valuable aspect of the business model.

“An element of exclusivity and time-sensitivity is the novelty aspect that attracts people.”

Scott plans to capitalize on that and sign only one-year leases with restaurants so the cuisine is always changing.


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