Running a small business today comes with constant pressure — rising costs, tight margins, and slow days that feel like wasted opportunity. 💸
In this Journey episode of the Tucson Marketplace Podcast, Abel breaks down why cash-only thinking can quietly hold businesses back — and how structured trade between businesses has helped communities grow for thousands of years.
You’ll learn:
 • Why unused time, inventory, and skills are hidden assets 🧠
 • How modern trade exchanges work (and why they’re not favors or discounts) 📊
 • How local businesses can conserve cash, sell more, and gain new customers 🤝
 • What this looks like right here in Pima County 🌵
Trade doesn’t replace cash — it works alongside it. When businesses stop letting capacity go to waste, something powerful happens: value keeps moving, relationships deepen, and growth becomes more predictable.
If you’ve ever felt stuck doing everything yourself, this episode may help you see your business — and your local economy — differently.

Running a small business is hard — and sometimes it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong.

It’s because you’re trying to do it alone.
In this Journey episode, I share a belief I held for years about the Chamber of Commerce — and how one simple visit completely changed my perspective.
I walk through:
 • The assumptions many small business owners quietly make 🤔
 • What actually happens when you show up and ask questions
 • Why connection, not just effort, is often the missing ingredient
 • How being plugged into the local business ecosystem can make growth easier — and faster

This episode isn’t about joining anything.
It’s about seeing opportunity you might be overlooking.If you’re a local business owner in Pima County feeling stuck, this one’s for you. 🌵

In this Journey Series episode, Abel shares the behind-the-scenes progress of building the Pima Business Marketplace—Tucson’s new B2B trading network that helps local businesses turn unused time, empty space, unsold products, and workforce capacity into value.

Today’s big discovery: the Flywheel concept—small actions that compound over time and create unstoppable momentum. From attending networking meetings to helping move unsold inventory, every step spins the wheel and builds traction for a new layer of local economic growth.

We explore:
 🔥 The difference between the cash economy and the value economy
🔁 How business-to-business trade creates momentum
🏪 Real examples of local businesses benefiting
🚀 The next steps: advisory board, early adopters, consistent outreach

If you’re a business owner in Tucson, Sahuarita, or Green Valley and want to be an early adopter, advise, or learn more, reach out at 520-289-6672.

This isn’t just a business—it’s infrastructure for a new layer of Tucson’s economy.

Step into 🌵 Buendia Café with host Abel Alvarez for a Desert Highlight full of warmth, flavor, and joy. ☕️ From the smell of cinnamon coffee to the cheerful “alegría” ✨ sprinkled on every plate, this Tucson gem feels like breakfast at your tía’s house — 🥟 delicious food, cozy vibes, and smiles all around. 😄

💰 Rising costs. 📉 Cash flow crunch. 🏪 Empty shops.
 In this Journey Series episode, Abel Alvarez breaks down the 5 biggest challenges Tucson small businesses face today — from shrinking margins and inflation to the loneliness of running a business on your own.
You’ll hear why these struggles aren’t your fault, why acting now is urgent, and how local businesses can start building resilience together. 🌵💪
🎧 Tune in to discover what’s really happening in Pima County’s business landscape — and get a sneak peek at a system designed to help local owners spend less, sell more, and thrive.

📍 In this episode of the Tucson Marketplace Podcast, host Abel Álvarez takes you on a sizzling journey into Churrasco de Brasil, Tucson’s authentic Brazilian steakhouse. From the green-and-red card system 🟩🟥, to servers gliding like steak ninjas 🥷, to unforgettable moments like flaming cheesecake 🍰🔥 — this is more than a meal, it’s an experience.

Abel shares his own backstory discovering Brazilian steakhouses in Denver 🏔️, funny family memories (including a wobbling Aristocats moment 🪿🍷), and why Churrasco de Brasil has become a must-visit spot for food, family, and celebration 🎉👨‍👩‍👧‍👦.

Whether you’re a first-time guest or a churrascaria veteran, this episode will leave you hungry and inspired. Come for the steak 🥩… stay for the stories ✨.

Running a business in Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley, or Pima County? 

You’re not alone if…
 📉 Costs are climbing
 👥 Customers are spending less
 💵 And your bank account isn’t keeping up
That’s why I’m starting The Main Street Business Exchange Journey — a series built just for local business owners. In this first episode, I share:

🔑 My “why” behind building this exchange
📊 The biggest challenges we’re all facing
🤝 How trading goods & services can save cash and bring in new customers
Want to be part of the first 20 founding members? Or grab your free printed guide? 📞 Text me at 520-289-6672 and let’s get started.

Looking for a healthy, flavorful spot in Tucson that hits differently? 🌿🍴

Join me on this episode of Desert Highlights as I dive into Pappoule’s, a local Greek gem! From the classic Greek salad 🥗 to falafel pita 🌱 and the famous gyro deluxe 🥙, I taste it all and share why this place satisfies Abel’s “good choice” craving every time.
We talk Mediterranean flavors, friendly service, and why this restaurant might just become your new go-to. Whether you’re vegetarian or a meat lover, there’s something here for everyone. Plus, I drop the location and how you can order today 📍📞 — and yes, let them know the Tucson Marketplace Podcast sent you 😉.
Tune in, get hungry, and find your next favorite Tucson spot! 🎧

Dead battery 🔋. Tucson heat ☀️🌵. A meet-and-greet deadline ⏰. Hear how AutoZone in Green Valley saved the day — and turned me into a proud, fast mechanic 🛠️… and briefly, a confused time traveler ⏳😅.

🎙️ In this Desert Highlight edition of the Tucson Marketplace Podcast, we visit Village Bakehouse — a Tucson staple since 1996 known for its pies 🥧, passion 💛, and people.

From their from-scratch baked goods and breakfast classics 🍳 to standout customer service and deep community roots 🌵, Village Bakehouse is more than just a bakery — it’s part of the city’s heartbeat.

Host Abel Alvarez shares his personal experiences, favorite menu items, and the kind of moments that make this place truly special. Whether you’ve been there before or have only driven past, this episode will give you a fresh reason to stop by.

👉 Visit: villagebakehouse.com
📞 Call: (520) 531-0977