Patagonia has welcomed two new businesses this year, launched by two people in the same family. David Luna, founder of Red Mountain Handyman, and his wife Gianna have been working together on their biggest and most recent project. They’ve remodeled the old Ovens of Patagonia space to open The Quail Covey, Gianna’s inspiration for a coffee, smoothie, internet cafe and community gathering space.
The Quail Covey opened April 24, serving creative smoothies, fresh sandwiches, and organic coffee from Adventure Coffee Roasting in Tucson. Hours are 6am to 1pm.
The café features local artists and food artisans, including coffee mugs by potter Martha Kelly, sandwich bread by Allegra Masters, bakery goods by The Farmer’s Daughter, jewelry by Fly’s Gift Shop, and potions by Patagonia Apothecary. Local artist Rhonda Brew created the outdoor sign. Gianna looks forward to adding more artists’ products to the café’s rotation.
Opening the Quail Covey has been a kind of full-circle journey for Gianna, who returned to her hometown after a few years elsewhere.
Gianna (neé Martin) is a Patagonia native and member of Patagonia Union High School Class of 2019. Wanting to explore life farther away after graduating, Gianna connected with cousins living in Hawaii, and enrolled in the University of Hawaii in Hilo to study marine biology, and then geography and environmental studies.
As she stayed in touch with her Patagonia friends who were mostly attending U of A in Tucson, Gianna began missing life back here. Then Covid hit. When all classes were online, Gianna decided she might as well come back home and take them from here.
That decision led to a big turning point: she met David Luna through a mutual friend in Tucson. They hit it off immediately.
David grew up on a horse ranch in southwest Tucson near San Xavier where he learned all kinds of building and fix-it skills from his do-it-yourself-inclined parents. He especially liked welding, which he pursued at Pima College.
Before meeting Gianna, David spent summers working for a large horse ranch in Wyoming that included everything from dude rides to rodeos to elaborate hunting and fishing pack trips. In addition to furthering his ranching and building skills, those experiences taught him about planning and logistics, and customer service— including how to handle high-end clients with equally high expectations.
Gianna and David got married, lived in Tucson, and had their son, River. David worked for a welding company that did work for Raytheon, and Gianna kept working on her college degree online.
By the time she reached her final step, the senior thesis, the University of Hawaii had opened back up, and required that thesis work be done in person. So the young family moved to Hawaii so Gianna could finish her degree. “It was quite the adventure with a one-year-old,” Gianna said.
When it was time to come back to Arizona, Gianna and David knew they wanted to call Patagonia home. “I’m a slower paced girl,” Gianna said. “I’ve never been a city girl. I missed the community, and wanted to come back here so that my kids could have the childhood I had, with its friendly, small town vibe.”
David quickly found work with Arizona Sawmill Builders, and independent referrals. He realized his communication skills and ability to work with different personalities had developed into a strong suit. Ultimately, he felt ready to strike out on his own and start Red Mountain Handyman.
David’s services include fencing, painting, landscaping, maintenance and repairs and light remodeling. His specialty is welding for things like railings, canopies, trailer repairs and stairs. “I hope in the future I can broaden the welding into its own shop,” he said. “I like welding—I enjoy the process.”
Meanwhile, Gianna had their second child, Laura, now one year old. She started nurturing business ideas of her own. The first iteration was Kinda Krunchy Baking, which she formed with longtime friend Exelee Budd under a cottage food license. “But that became really hard really fast,” Gianna said. “It’s hard to bake at home with a baby and toddler!”
Gianna’s dream became more tangible when David did some work for Bonnie Maclean and Bob Ollerton on their Plaza de Patagonia property where Ovens of Patagonia used to be. They all got to talking, and a business plan for The Quail Covey blossomed. “We are excited to have them there,” said Maclean. “We know it will become a great place for the community.”
From the beginning, Gianna has envisioned The Quail Covey as a gathering spot, including a laptop bar, remote work space and a place for moms and kids.
“The Quail Covey will be a space for everyone to come and hang out!” Gianna wrote on a Facebook post last month. “The word covey means a group of birds or people, big or small. This begins with my little family, but extends out to our community.”
Balancing work and family time has been the biggest challenge for the young couple while building the café, and they expect that will continue to be the case as they shift to the daily cycle of running the place. Gianna has heard from several people who want to help or to work there, and knows she’ll adapt over time based on what customers want, and what works for the family and business.
The Quail Covey Kids’ Corner embodies the café’s central value of family. “Our kids are our biggest drive,” David said. “We’re doing this for them. We want to be there for our kids as much as possible.”
And, recognizing that “it takes a village” to raise businesses, too, David and Gianna give lots of thanks to their mentors and supporters, Bonnie Maclean and Bob Ollerton, Lily Christopher and Emmett Rahn-Oakes of Queen of Cups for their advice and encouragement, and Brad Boschetto of Little Woods Enterprises for mentoring David with his business.
The Quail Covey is open 6:00 am to 1:00 pm at 277 McKeown Ave. David’s phone number is 307-699-7929.