History

Gentle Ben's Brewing is an iconic bar/restaurant that is considered by many Arizona Alumni as nothing shy of iconic. It holds a special place in many of Tucson’s finest hearts, while quite literally being at the heart of University boulevard, the epicenter for social interaction at the University of Arizona. Gentle Ben’s (nicknamed “Ben’s” by students) initially was underneath the Marriott Hotel lobby but took over their University boulevard location in 1991. The building that is now owned by Gentle Ben’s was built in 1908 and has a rich history with occupants such as residing as the University President’s house and housing other important historical Tucson figures. It’s name is derived from a 1920’s cartoon that starred a sympathetic bear named Gentle Ben as a co main character. Since its creation, it has brought thousands of irreplaceable memories to people and continues to do so. 

https://relentlessbeats.com/2019/09/venue-spotlight-gentle-bens/

 

Features 

Gentle Ben’s Brewing has various aspects to offer. During the day, anyone no matter the age can sit down and enjoy some of the amazing meals they offer from shrimp tacos to a pulled pork sandwich. If of age then customers can also enjoy a “Ben’s Bomb”; a beverage that is mostly prepared for college students. As you can see Gentle Ben’s has a very wide variety of selections on the menu however this creativeness can also be seen in the entertainment aspect due to the nightlife here. During nightfall, Gentle Ben’s opens up the upstairs portion of their establishment which reveals a very large patio taking up most of the upper level while still containing an inside dance floor and an approximately 30 foot over the counter bar. Having an inside and outside option like this for people to decide where they want to be allows them to stay open through all seasons while still being able to hold at least seven hundred fifty people in the summer heat or winter cold.     

 

Entertainment

The infamous attraction that sits on University boulevard contains many creative ways to keep the crowd happy. Gentle Ben’s incorporates various types of musical performers to entertain people on a weekly basis. Much of the music selection tends to be electronic dance music (EDM) with Ben’s usually inviting smaller artists to come and perform. Ben’s kills two birds with one stone by doing this because it gives exposure to these artists while giving the people what they want. They also offer nights like hip-hop night and throwback night where they play old school jams. 

 

 

https://relentlessbeats.com/events/chris-lake-gentle-bens-031419/

 

Proximity

One of the main reasons Gentle Ben’s is so successful and loved by the people is because of how close it is to most people who reside on or near the University of Arizona’s campus. When I spoke to a fellow student at the University they stated, “When you're a freshman and first get to campus, the first thing you notice when getting to University boulevard is Ben’s. The music blasting, the smiles on people’s faces, the atmosphere itself entices any person to see what the place is all about.” The self brewing bar is a 5 minute walk from Yugo, the furthest apartment building on campus yet an even shorter walk for those at the dorms that have the desire to eat outside for a change. 

A list of in close proximity attractions include: 

• Arizona-Sonora Dorm
• Coronado Dorm 
• No Anchovies 
• Illegal Pete's 
• Agave House 
• Arizona State Museum
•  Mckale Center

 

Owner and Staff

Dennis Arnold is the mastermind behind this iconic Tucson brewery. Arnold and his business partner Tauna Arnold are both Tucson natives who brought to life the only craft brewery in Tucson at the time of its creation in 1991. They began their ventures on the corner of 2nd and Tyndall until upgrading to University boulevard. They own other entities as well including Barrio’s Brewing Co. In recent years Dennis made history by  turning Barrio’s Brewing into the first bar to give full ownership over to the company’s employees. They offered a program that was incentivized for employees that work 1,000 hours in a year immediately giving them a stake of ownership. The staff at Gentle Ben’s includes 54 employees who always seem to have a positive energy with everyone who walks in. The general manager and co-owner, who isn’t on sight much, is a man named Richard Fifer who is University of Arizona Alumni and worked his way through the ranks, beginning as a bartender. The on-sight manager is a woman named Kristina Kidd who has been in the position since the spring of 2022. 

 

 

Community Impact

Gentle Ben’s Brewing is infamously known for the great environment that they consistently provide their customers. This is true, but Gentle Ben’s has a very hands on approach to supporting the community and hard working citizens of Tucson. In recent years Gentle Ben’s has partnered with the A Light Network, a Tucson nonprofit organization that raises money mostly for the underprivileged children within the community. The two have partnered to create fundraisers every year since 2019. The fundraiser, For The Kids, has raised over 12,000 dollars since the year 2021. Due to Ben’s always being a helping hand to Tucson and the nonprofit specifically, during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak Ben’s employees were given the same love that Ben’s always gives out. A Light Network attempted to raise over 60,000 dollars, all strictly given to the employees and not ownership. The simple fact that an organization was willing to aid in a time of need without being prompted to do so speaks volumes about the character that runs through Gentle Ben’s.  

 

 

 

References: 

“A Light Network.” A LIGHT NETWORK, www.alightnetwork.com/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024. https://www.alightnetwork.com/

 Dempsey, Geoff. “3 Tucson Restaurants’ Staff Get Helping Hand amid Pandemic.” Tucson, AZ Patch, Patch, 24 Mar. 2020, patch.com/arizona/tucson/3-tucson-restaurants-staff-get-helping-hand-amid-pandemic. 

Toast, Inc. “Gentle Ben’s Brewing.” Gentle Ben’s Brewing | Restaurant in Tucson, AZ. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024. https://gentlebens.com/#:~:text=Built%20in%201908%20as%20a,was%20chosen%20through%20a%20contest.