Revolutionary Grounds Books and Coffee can put its public water station back outside, after an online petition drew support from 450 people and counting.
The coffee shop, near East Speedway Boulevard and North Swan Road, set up the free water station two years ago, but moved it indoors after a security guard complained to the landlord about the people it was attracting, including some members of the unhoused community.
Joy Soler, co-owner of the coffee shop, said the water station provides 24/7 water access at the Mission Plaza shopping center. In September, however, she received a surprising phone call from her landlord.
“He said that there was a problem with the water station and that we had to remove it immediately,” Soler said. “Apparently he had received a complaint from a security guard who worked outside of the shopping center stating that it was a problem that was due to an unsafe and unwelcoming environment and that we were trying to turn the space into a social service base.”
The conversation took Soler by surprise, as she said she hadn’t received a single complaint since the shop set up the station outside of the business over two years ago. Soler said the station was used by “everybody”, as they refilled it twice a day during the summer months.
“When we first put it out, I spoke to the people on either side of me, the business on either side and they expressed some concern that it might cause problems,” she said. “But we got zero complaints and actually folks really complimented it and felt that it was good service to provide and everybody used it.”
Soler’s landlord asked her to remove the water station, which was operated with mutual aid group Community Care Tucson. It was relocated to the inside of the business, and was only available during business hours, as opposed to a 24/7 access.
"He felt very strongly that it wasn't appropriate and that it would deter people from coming to the shopping center and would cause people to feel uncomfortable and unsafe because homeless people got water there,” she said.
Since the relocation, a petition was set up by a community member to preserve the outside water station. The petition has been signed by more than 450 people since September 16.
AZPM reached out to the landlord of the coffee shop, but did not receive a comment.
On Oct. 15, Soler said she received permission from her landlord to put the water station back outside.
“I’m really happy and relieved,” Soler said. “It’s been hurting me that the people who depend on the water can’t get it. It’s a happy ending.”
