After 17 years of handcrafting custom piñatas for Tucson's birthday parties, quinceañeras and pandemic lockdowns alike, the Piñata Factory has closed its storefront on North Stone Avenue, another small business squeezed out by the shift to online shopping.

While working decorations at Marymar Events, a Tucson event venue and party planning business, Dehnia Arrizon saw the need for more local piñata makers.

"I joined to do decorations, but there were times they needed people (to make piñatas,") Arrizon told Tucson Spotlight during an interview conducted in Spanish. "The man that made the piñatas there, he taught me. I learned with practice."

Arrizon opened the Piñata Factory at 640 N. Stone Ave. in 2009, watching her skills and business grow over the years as she gained notoriety for her custom pieces, including princesses, superheroes and COVID-19-inspired piñatas.

Business was booming for more than 15 years, but a steady dip in in-person orders has led Arrizon to close the brick-and-mortar location.

"It's not the same. It's been so many years that people come and they are more on their phones," she said in Spanish. "Right now, with everything that is happening, people don't come anymore. They're not having as many parties."

She said even her regulars and frequent clients now mainly order piñatas and party supplies over the phone, describing what they want rather than coming in for the one-on-one, in-person connection of bringing a party theme to life together.

The Piñata Factory's neighbors in the North Stone Avenue business plaza, including JJ's Bicycles and Chappopin Café, say they're sorry to see the Tucson staple close its doors.

"It's sad that she has to move her business to home because people now don't go out and visit stores," said Chappopin Café owner Natalia Chappotin. "They do a lot of online shopping which is killing our small local businesses."

Chappotin said customers are missing the experience of visiting a store, meeting the owner and creating something beautiful together, something she said Arrizon excelled at.

"I met her about a year and half ago. She was a great neighbor to me. In my first three months here, she made me a coffee piñata to congratulate us," Chappotin said. "I wish her success, now that she is transitioning to a more online and phone business. I hope that she is still successful and continues to create piñatas. (Piñata Factory) is a historic part of Tucson."

Chappotin has offered up her cafe as a location for piñata pick-ups, hoping to recreate an in-person shopping experience and help make connections.

Last month, Guty Morales, founder of junk journaling group Artsy Babes Club, hosted a birthday party junk journal event at Chappopin.

After crafting, attendees took turns swinging a bat at a custom piñata resembling Morales, one of the last pieces made in the store before it closed.

Arrizon had also made piñatas for her neighboring business, JJ's Bicycles, which opened shortly before the Piñata Factory.

Owner Jose Villegas and Arrizon built a friendship over the years.

"We had a really good relationship. She was an excellent neighbor. (She's) been part of the community in Tucson and a lot of people know her," Villegas said. "It's pretty sad to see her and the factory leave. It's not the same. Hopefully these changes are good and it'll be better for her."

Arrizon has made piñatas for Villegas in the shapes of various bicycle parts, including a wheel. And while piñata making is not easy to master, it's a skill and tradition that Arrizon has all but perfected.

"It's all a process. First you make the frame, prepare the materials and make molds," Arrizon said.

Her favorite part, though, is always the end result.

"Simply to see the children's faces when they come to pick up the piñata," she said. "It's always been good. For five years, I was the first place where you could buy and order a custom piñata. Thank you, Tucson."

While the Piñata Factory has moved on from a brick-and-mortar store to a home-based business, Tucsonans can still order custom pieces for all their special events by calling (520) 495-0920, texting (520) 305-7822 or visiting its Facebook page.

Emma Diaz is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist based in Tucson.

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