A new documentary celebrating one of Tucson’s most influential Black-owned businesses and the neighborhood it called home is bringing a long-overlooked chapter of the city’s history back into the spotlight.

“2032 South Park Avenue,” created by two women about their family’s barbershop and its role in the once-thriving South Park neighborhood, will premiere Dec. 6 at the YWCA.

Tucson’s South Park neighborhood was a hub of Black-owned businesses dating back to the 1940s, and when Hopkins Fashions & Sounds opened in the 1960s, it was right in the center of the action. Over time, Hopkins became more than just a barbershop.

“They used to sell records, they had all these like Afro-centric clothing, and then there was a shop and a restaurant and like, it was really popping,” said director and producer Shanda Pierce, quoting a former customer.

Hopkins Fashions & Sounds, owned and operated by Pierce’s grandfather, Walter Hopkins, created a lasting legacy within the community. That’s why she and her mother, Gwen Pierce, decided to highlight the business and its place in Tucson’s Black history in their new film, which blends archival materials with conversations from family and longtime customers.

Shanda Pierce, who works as an event planner at the LA Film School, said she was inspired by her grandfather.

“I think I’ve always thought we needed stories like this, but we really do need them now more than ever, to preserve history,” she said. “We need to preserve history within communities of color as well. And specifically with Tucson, I think a lot of people don’t realize how much Black history is in Tucson, myself included. And my family’s from here. I didn’t realize that my family was a part of Black history.”

The project also aimed to preserve everyday history and show how regular people, like Hopkins and his late wife, Lula Hunter, made a difference.

“I just want people to know that even in a small town, you can also make history,” Shanda Pierce said. “Sometimes you can use your natural gifts that you have. My grandpa, people say he’s so cool, and that’s a talent. And my grandma, she’s naturally quiet, but she was naturally business-minded. People loved them. And within your small community, you can make an impact.”

Gwen Pierce, founder and publisher of “The Chocolate Voice” and Walter Hopkins’ daughter, served as the film’s executive producer.

“The main thing is preserving our legacy, his legacy, our family’s legacy. And I just want people to know the impact that was made by my parents,” she said. “They were young, like in their twenties, and they started a whole business. And it lasted a decade and more, and it meant a lot to the Tucson community.”

Hopkins still cuts hair in the same barbershop today and reflected on the origin of his business.

“It wasn’t about trying to do something really for myself, as far as monetary rewards,” he said. “It was to inspire (my family) and other friends of mine.”

The Pierces created “2032 South Park Avenue” for Tucsonans to learn more about the community, and they hope it will engage both longtime customers and younger generations.

“My mom said ‘this is also something that not only can be nostalgic for the people who remember those days, but also educational for the people who didn’t exist yet,’” Shanda Pierce said.

YWCA Program Manager Victor Bowleg said they decided to host the event because the film reflects the organization’s ties to Tucson.

“Part of what we do is building relationships with the community,” Bowleg said. “This is an opportunity to bring the Tucson community into the Y and highlight a part of the community that’s not always spotlighted.”

To capture the history of Hopkins Fashions & Sounds and the South Park neighborhood, Shanda Pierce filmed interviews with customers and family members. She and her mother conducted all of the interviews, recording the entire film on an iPhone.

“It’s just like with my grandpa — he’s so chill and so even, and sometimes he’ll drop knowledge at the most inopportune times,” she said. “With the barbershop too, sometimes somebody might be there one day and you don’t get them the next, so you kind of have to be on the go.”

Even though the Pierces aren’t yet promoting the documentary beyond the December screening, community response has been positive. Before the final trailer was ready, Shanda Pierce sent her mother a rough video of early clips. Her mother loved it so much she shared it, prompting enthusiastic reactions from community members eager to reconnect with the neighborhood’s history.

RSVPs for the screening have closed. The event will include a post-screening panel featuring Hopkins, community members and the filmmakers, who will answer questions about the film and share stories with the community.

Katlyn Vargas is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at katlynvargas@arizona.edu.

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