Proper Shops

Unique Downtown Venue Offers Art, Apparel and More

By April Bourie

On a recent Saturday night in Downtown Tucson, some patrons were enjoying cocktails at a bar. Others were visiting a gallery. Shoppers were perusing a clothing and jewelry store, and someone was getting a tattoo.  

At Proper Shops, located at 300 E. Congress St., they can enjoy all these things. The 4,300- square-foot venue offers a diverse collection of shops featuring clothing, jewelry, University of Arizona apparel and souvenirs, and more.  There’s a barbershop and a tattoo parlor, and shared patio space with Jaime’s Pizza Kitchen, Scented Leaf Tea, and The Good Oak Bar. 

Proper Shops was founded by friends Krystal Popov and Tracy Nicasio. Popov owns and manages the L Offices, a downtown co-working space. She was often approached by retailers looking to rent small spaces. Proper Restaurant had vacated its space, and Popov thought it would be a good location for a new venture. 

She approached Nicasio and Proper Shops was born, offering small spaces and month-to-month leases. The project opened in December 2022 with 15 retailers. 

Jason Robinson of Sport Class Customs is one of the original retailers. During COVID-19, Robinson started woodworking projects with his sons to keep them busy. They began selling items on Etsy, and in 2021, sold 2,000–reinvesting the money back into the business.  

When he heard about Proper Shops, he was ready. “I needed a space to meet customers that wasn’t in my home,” he said. “Having my own space also shows my customers that I am treating this as a legitimate business.”

Another tenant, The Tucson Gallery, came to fruition when Popov approached Tom Heath, a mortgage broker with several artist friends, about opening a gallery.  Heath spoke with his friends, realtors Tony Ray Baker and Darren Jones.

“We thought we could create a gallery that is more than just hanging art on the wall where once the piece is sold, you must create another one,” he said.

The Tucson Gallery features artist originals reproducible on any item: a mug, t-shirt, or even a canvas. “This way, our artists can sell the same piece of art over and over, and they don’t have to wait to create another piece to earn more money.” 

Chelsea Adler opened Willow’s Custom Boutique at Proper Shops. She had worked in retail all her life, ultimately designing her own clothing line. She was holding pop-up events for her clothes when she heard about Proper Shops. “It was low risk and lined up with exactly what I wanted to do. It also provided me with a network I didn’t have before going in.”

That network is an added benefit of Proper Shops. “My biggest surprise was collaborating with Chelsea of Willows Boutique,” said Robinson. “We created a wooden purse called Timber Totes.” It’s become so popular that its being sold at nearly 10 different stores, some outside of Tucson.

Adler also collaborated with Scarlet Tompkins of Desert Mariposa Boutique, another Proper Shops retailer.

“Opening in Proper Shops was a lily pad,” said Adler. “It brought awareness to my brand and store, and it led me to the people in my life that have made everything possible.”

“The retailers’ passion and drive and commitment to fulfilling their dreams of being a retail business owner is what makes Proper Shops successful,” said Nicasio.