 Jackson Wong standing in front of his GrantStone Supermarket.
Jackson Wong is a hardworking man. He's been at it since setting foot in the United States in the '60s. Jackson, an immigrant from Hong Kong, was brought here by an uncle at the age of 20. Not speaking English, he attended Pueblo High for a year until he was deemed too old to be enrolled. He then started working at his uncle's grocery store on South Sixth in South Tucson, United Market. It was here that Jackson learned all about the grocery business. So much so that in 1982, he and a business partner purchased the AJ Bayless grocery store on the corner of Grant and Stone.
 Jackson on the far right in the early '80s.
He aptly named the store at that intersection "Grant-Stone Supermarket". He soon joined a grocers' association and quickly earned more buying power so he could better compete with the larger chains. At first, the business model was that of a regular American grocery store, but by 1987, the big box grocers had moved in down the street, and Jackson had to find a way to stay in business. At the advice of an old mentor, he pivoted his inventory and began to specialize and carry solely Asian products. He made an effort to have the most authentic products, and word of mouth soon spread. Grant-Stone soon became the go-to place for authentic Asian groceries.
 Jackson with vegetables.
Today, Jackson has customers who come from as far as Hermosillo to buy products from him. He also speaks quite a bit of Spanish, which he learned while he was enrolled in Pueblo High School. The language comes in handy when he is dealing with the large numbers of Spanish-speaking Latinos who live in and around Tucson as well as from south of the border. He has employees who have been working with him since the '70s, such is the case with Mary Bonillas. When I asked him what his favorite product was, he quickly answered that all the products were good, but the standouts are the vegetables. Grant-Stone is one of the few places where you can purchase hard-to-find Asian spices and fresh vegetables like Bok choy and white choy.
 Jackson Wong with long-time employee Mary Bonillas.
So, if you are in the market for some real Asian groceries, swing by the Grant-Stone Supermarket and support your local grocer.
Before I became a City employee, I served on the Tucson Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee (also known as the TPCBAC). At our monthly meetings, we had the chance to hear presentations about bicycle infrastructure from City staff and other experts, review proposed City projects, and provide feedback on designs. There are all sorts of commissions set up to engage local citizens in City and County policy, and they each have their own alphabet-soup-style acronym.
If you’re willing to volunteer your time and interested in learning more about certain City functions, consider applying for one of the vacancies below. Ward 3 Council Member Dahl is able to appoint one member to each of the following commissions:
The Tucson Convention Center Commission (TCCC) is responsible for reviewing the annual contract between the City and the TCC’s managing partner, reviewing quarterly budget forecasts, making recommendations regarding capital investment, and more.
The Economic and Workforce Development Selection Committee (EWDSC) represents large companies and small businesses across various industries, non-profit organizations, and other government entities; it reviews and recommends economic and workforce development proposals, including allocating funding.
 A virtual meeting of the TPCBAC back in January 2021.
The Independent Audit and Performance Commission (IAPC) is one of the City’s more technical commissions, and requires that members have not less than ten (10) years of financial or executive experience; or not less than five (5) years of such experience plus another five (5) years experience in a comparable field such as project management, grant administration, compliance reporting or data analysis. It’s one of the City’s more technical commissions because members put together reports and review and comment on the City’s Annual Audit Plan.
The Park Tucson Commission (PTC) advises on, reviews and makes recommendations regarding city and neighborhood parking programs, the schedule of user charges for parking facilities, and works with other City and County commissions on issues relating to transportation and parking enforcement.
The Pima County / Tucson Women’s Commission (PCTWC) was created back in 1992 as a non-profit corporation and advocates, advises, recommends, and monitors all issues that impact the welfare of women in Tucson and Pima County.
If you’re interested in being considered for any (or multiple) of these commissions, please send a letter of interest and a resume to ward3@tucsonaz.gov.
And if none of those commissions piques your interest, feel free to look at the entire list of commissions here: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Clerks/Boards-Committees-Commissions/Boards-Commissions. The Ward 3 Council office may not have a vacant spot on the commission you’re interested in, but other appointers – like the Mayor’s office or another Council office or some other entity – might be looking for someone just like you to fill their spot.
 Study Session included a discussion on The Manager's Recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2026, the franchise agreement with Tucson Electric Power, and a discussion on the approval process to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Council Member Richard Fimbres.
Regular session included a rezoning update on La Mariposa Casita Village.
For the complete Study Session and Regular Agenda please click on the buttons below.
|
