Introduction
Illegal Pete's is one of the most popular restaurants right next to the University of Arizona Campus. The restaurant located in Tucson was established on December 10, 2015 and was founded by Pete Turner who dedicated his work to serving quick and healthy Mexican food to the public. Illegal Pete's is known for its mission-style burritos and also offers alternative items on the menu such as bowls, nachos, and quesadillas. College students often go there to try their famously strong margaritas and happy hour deals on the rooftop balcony. The restaurant atmosphere caters to all friends and family and is a great experience to try while you are visiting Tucson.
https://robpaulus.com/projects/illegal-petes-tucson/
History
Pete Turner opened his first Illegal Pete's restaurant in 1995 in Boulder, Colorado. However, over the years, and more recently, the restaurant has expanded to Tucson, Arizona, where the University of Arizona students can enjoy the food and atmosphere. Early on in his life, Turner was exposed to the restaurant industry through his mother, and eventually worked at many restaurants gaining the experience and knowledge he needed to one day run his own business. While attending CU Boulder, he was exposed to a unique style of Mexican food, mainly found in the Bay area, which inspired the diverse menu we see today. In 1993, Turner graduated CU Boulder with a degree in English and just two years later, his first restaurant opened. Pete Turner emphasizes that his father’s support and enthusiasm is the reason he opened and started running a business at such an early age. Turner was inspired by his father’s fun and rebellious spirit, which led to Turner’s inspiring business name. The name Illegal Pete’s is more than just a name to the founder of this restaurant and its community. The word “illegal” in the restaurant’s title stands for fighting injustice that the community has faced as well as challenging the norms, and bringing a sense of equality and belonging whenever a customer sets foot into the establishment. While Turner's restaurant encourages fun and positivity, the journey to create a successful business was rather challenging in all aspects of his life. While attending his first semester at CU Boulder, Turner’s dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Despite his condition, Turner’s father continued to support his son and his goals of opening a restaurant. Sadly, his father passed away after an 8 year battle with the disease, but his name lives on within the name and history of the restaurant, as it is a true symbol of Turner’s father and the light he brought to his son and his newly founded business. Turner has described his challenge of opening a business by stating that "starting the business nearly killed him.", but it is clear the amount of effort and support put into his dreams truly paid off. To this day, there are now 12 Illegal Pete's locations.
https://www.colorado.edu/business/deming/news/2022/01/26/alumni-spotlight-pete-turner-illegal-petes
Location and Inquiries
Address: 876 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719
Official Website: https://www.illegalpetes.com/?olonwp=JjBtp_vMLk25gkYh_bnoiQ
Contact Information: (520) 352-0032
https://www.happycow.net/reviews/illegal-petes-tucson-200747
Menu Items
Illegal Pete's menu consists of many fantastic options for those who love Mexican food and boozy drinks. Turner, the owner of the restaurant, was inspired by the Bay area's style of food and created a healthy and diverse menu for all of his customers to enjoy. The bowls are an extremely popular option because the different ingredients are all displayed to you when first walking in. The best part about Illegal Pete's is that everything on the menu from the bowls to the burritos to the salads and quesadillas are all customizable to each customer's preference. There are options such as what types of meat which includes grilled chicken, steak, carnitas, beer-battered fish, and barbacoa, as well as two different types of rice, and two different types of beans to choose from. Additionally, there are many other toppings to include in your meal such as potatoes, veggies, onion, salsa, and so much more. Illegal Pete's menu also has vegetarian options, which makes this establishment open to all clientele. While the food is extremely delicious, it is extremely important to try the restaurant's drinks to get the full experience. The menu includes options such as a variety of cocktails, house beer, sip+shoot combos, but the margaritas are what take the experience to the next level for most customers. 
https://www.therooftopguide.com/rooftop-bars-in-tucson/illegal-petes.html
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Atmosphere of Restaurant
When first walking into the establishment, there are many options for the customer to sit. At the front of the restaurant, there are benches as well as the option to sit upstairs on the balcony. There are also tables inside and bar seating for customers 21+. Illegal Pete's can be described as having dark wooden floors with not too bright lighting. The line to order your food is straight ahead when walking in the doors and is concisely organized to cater food to the customers' choosing. Illegal Pete's is often filled with college students during the weekends and towards the evenings. On game days, students will also show up and support University of Arizona's games such as basketball, football, hockey, and more. If a customer prefers to go during a less crowded time of the day, it can be recommended to go around noon until 5pm. Customers with diverse amounts of preferences are welcome to the restaurant through their own atmospheric preferences and food preferences. However, because of the college students at University of Arizona, Illegal Pete's provides a sense of belonging and a closer reach to its own-expanding community. 
https://www.reppmclain.com/illegal-petes
Community Involvement
Pete Turner's business is known for holding charity fundraisers such as one in April 2012, called the "Smother Autism" campaign. This fundraiser helped provide money for The Joshua School, a non profit treatment center for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Additionally, Illegal Pete's has helped show its support for smaller local bands also known as "Pete's Pints Campaign". Throughout the years since starting his business, Pete Turner has shown support to his community by starting programs such as The Starving Artist Program and the "Greater Than" artist program. Illegal Pete's has also won awards such as one in 2011 called the "Best place to eat and hang out with rockstars." Pete Turner has proved himself to be a true inspiration in his community through his hard working ethics, contribution to society, and lending helpful hands to those who need it.
Alumni Spotlight: Pete Turner - Illegal Pete’s. (2022, January 26). Leeds School of Business. https://www.colorado.edu/business/deming/news/2022/01/26/alumni-spotlight-pete-turner-illegal-petes#:~:text=While%20in%20school%2C%20he%20was
Illegal Pete’s Tucson - Order Online. (n.d.). Illegal Pete’s. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://illegalpetes.olo.com/menu/illegal-petes-tucson
Star, C. E. B. A. D. (2015, December 8). Illegal Pete’s opening Thursday. Arizona Daily Star. https://tucson.com/entertainment/blogs/caliente-tuned-in/illegal-petes-opening-thursday/article_02881bae-9ddb-11e5-9240-bf2ff4b38a33.html
Wikipedia Contributors. (2024, January 9). Illegal Pete’s. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_Pete%27s
