$25 Challenge: Peddlers Passage has whimsical trinkets and Tucson goods

Owner Bianna Workman said the idea for The Peddlers Passage came from the need for more vendor and local business opportunities in northwest Tucson.

“I've always loved the Tucson arts community, Fourth Avenue Street Fair, all the local shops, and I think it's really important to keep that alive and just flourishing here in Tucson,” Workman said. “I decided to open The Peddlers Passage, really to support not only the vendors but also a place for the community to find their products and to shop locally.”

It opened at 6429 N. Oracle Road on July 18 and currently hosts more than 80 vendors. Inside, you’ll find everything from freshly made baked goods, homemade jams and local soaps to artists' prints, handmade jewelry and vintage or secondhand books.

According to Workman, the food items offered in “Peddlers Pantry” are some of the most popular products.

“We also have the authors' corner, and we have some local authors here that have their books on display. So that’s supporting local authors and giving them a place to share their work as well,” Workman said.

“We have the Velvet Burrow in the back. There are books for sale back there — used books and vintage, antique, unique books — and there's like a little sitting room back there if somebody wants to just study or kill some time or just have a place to relax.”

Workman said she hopes to cultivate a community around Peddlers Passage with a welcoming atmosphere and regular events.

“Each month we do different workshops that the vendors actually host. Sometimes it's a paint pouring class or clay polymer clay making, wood carving,” she said. “So a really big variety for the community to come by and get involved in.”

This week for our $25 Challenge, I decided to stop by and see for myself what local artisan treasures I could find in the shop for under $25. Here’s a few of my favorite picks:

Are you really a Tucsonan if you don’t have an abundance of cactus-themed decor in your house? If adorable cactus decorations are your weakness, for $25 you might need a tiny fake potted saguaro from the Paint Pour Academy. You can choose from a range of colors, from pink or blue to grey.

I also loved the sets of pressed flower earrings and necklaces by Lazybrook Flower Farm, especially their delicate forget-me-not earrings and their moon earrings. Their necklaces are priced at $25, while their earring pairs are $20.

If you are looking for a thoughtful gift, or wanting to buy local skin and body care products, Peddlers Passage has an abundance, including a line of delicious-smelling soaps from Thistle & Thyme. Their soaps are hand-poured and made from natural ingredients. Each bar costs $12, and in-store they stock scents including rose clay, rergamot and sandalwood, and oatmilk and honey. My favorite, though, was their jasmine bar, which smelled exactly like the real flowers.

For foodies, you can pick up locally-made artisan jams and salsas made by Kristina Brooks at Kristina’s Kitchen. You’ll find everything from peach salsa to strawberry and plum jams. Plus Kristina’s treats come in three sizes: 4 oz. for $7, 8 oz. for $12, or 16 oz. for $18.

If there’s two things I love, it’s tea and candles. So imagine my delight when I found crystal teacup candles from Funky Retro Vintage. The beautiful candles come in multiple scents like jasmine and lavender, with real flowers embedded in the wax, and are $12.

Speaking of vintage, Peddlers Passage also has a selection of vintage classic books on the shelves of the Velvet Burrow. I found a copy of “Jane Eyre” priced at $18.

Finally, I have to mention the beautiful art prints I found by mixed-media artist Kirsten Dill. Dill creates vibrant paintings and watercolors of wildlife and birds including foxes, hares, cows and hummingbirds. One of my favorite pieces was a portrait of a raccoon. The prints were priced at $16.