Tucked into a historic patch of citrus groves on Tucson’s northwest side, Our Urban Grove has quietly grown into one of the city’s most unique event venues, where weddings fund a larger mission and date palms share space with decades of local history.

Owner Sabrina Rigas purchased the three-acre estate at 550 West Orange Grove Road in 2014, with no intention of opening an event venue.

But through a series of casual outdoor dinners and events, the space caught the eye of the Tucson creative community.

"I just posted a few photos of our citrus and date trees and the dinners we were doing with local chefs,” Rigas said. “Then photographers reached out, and then wedding planners.”

Long before it became a backdrop for weddings and community dinners, the land itself had a story to tell. Originally part of a citrus grove planted by Maurice Reid in the 1920s, the area was among the first of its kind in the region. Maurice Reid’s son, Gene Reid, went on to become Tucson’s first parks and recreation director and is the namesake of Reid Park.

“Citrus needs both heat and water to thrive, and underneath us is an aquifer, so when he bought the land this was a perfect place to plant citrus,” Rigas explained.

In the 1960s, the Reid family sold the land to the Nanini family, Italian developers who subdivided much of it into the Casas Adobes neighborhood. But this particular parcel remained intact, preserved in the middle of an ever-expanding city.

In keeping with its roots, Our Urban Grove not only preserves its trees but also contributes their fruit to Tucson’s local culinary scene. It trades citrus and sells dates to popular local restaurants including 5 Points Market and Restaurant, Casa Madre, and Barrio Bread’s Don Guerra.

When the pandemic hit, Rigas pivoted to trading produce at the front gate and selling at outdoor markets, while her husband turned his attention to the grove.

“It kept (us) busy during COVID,” she said. “My husband, who is an expert in dates, took the lead on that. We revived a lot of the date palms.”

The grove is proudly maintained by a tight-knit family team. Rigas and her daughter, Sarah Yousef, manage operations and communications; University of Arizona student Gianna Acocella helps coordinate events, and Rigas’ husband and retired electrical engineer Yousef Al-Abdulrahim handles lighting and date production.

“We don’t have a big staff. That’s part of how we stay so affordable,” Yousef said.

They also let couples bring in their own vendors—caterers, DJs, florists—giving them a lot of freedom and control of their special day.

The venue hosts 20 to 30 weddings annually and has become known for its romantic citrus-scented groves, historic flair and flexible, family-run operations, all within city limits.

“Most venues are way out in Oro Valley or Sahuarita,” Rigas said. “We’re right here in town, with citrus blossoms, palm trees, and a mountain view.”

But for many, the venue's appeal goes beyond aesthetics: Rigas has also partnered with Free Ever After, a nonprofit bridal store that combats sex trafficking.

“We thought it was the most appropriate thing to do because we do so many weddings here, it just made sense,” said Rigas.

Free Ever After sells wedding dresses, many donated by designers and bridal shops, to help fund a long-term restoration program for women recovering from trafficking.

Our Urban Grove refers their brides to the shop, located at 5632 East Broadway Boulevard, and when purchases are made, a donation is made in the name of the couple.

All proceeds from Free Ever After’s sales support survivors of sex trafficking, and a portion of Our Urban Grove’s wedding income is donated to the nonprofit.

“My daughter actually learned about sex trafficking in high school,” Rigas said. “A panel came in and talked about how it spikes in Tucson during big events like the Gem Show.”

Yousef remembered the panel when they learned about Free Ever After, and she and her mother brought the collaboration to life.

“We're women-owned, and they’re woman-owned. It just made a lot of sense,” said Yousef.

The venue accommodates more than weddings. Baby showers, graduation parties, nonprofit events and University of Arizona celebrations are common. They also offer a discount to nonprofits and military families.

But at its heart, the grove is about preserving the land and serving the community, Rigas said.

“If we didn’t do this, we’d probably have to sell,” she said. “I’d like to preserve the history of this area for as long as possible. I don’t want to see this overrun by developers.”

Griffen Engelberg is a University of Arizona alum and intern with Tucson Spotlight. Contact him at at gje1@arizona.edu.

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