This New Arizona Shop Is Bringing The Heat Year Round

Arizona's hot. No question about the weather, but people seem to forget that our cuisine can get just as hot. When your state is constantly beating sun rays down on you, the best plan is to microdose heat however you can.

No wonder we love hot sauce so much.

Little Shop of Hot Sauce

Matt Berger was in the tobacco business. For years he's run his Phoenix based smoke shop "Butt Out" on the corner of 7th Street and Virginia Avenue, but recently he figured it was time for a change. He wanted people to stop burning their lungs, and start burning their tongues.

Berger's wife is from Senegal, so when "Butt Out" closed, they reopened the space as "Senegal and Beyond", which sold clothing, food, and gifts of African fashion. The store did poorly, but one item didn't: their hot sauce.

Get our free mobile app

Read More: Get in the Fall Spirit with Arizona's Best Corn Mazes!

Burning Phoenix One Taste Bud at a Time

Berger's hot sauce was selling like hot cakes. First, off the shelves of their store, next at local farmers markets. This all came to a head when biker groups began asking for a pop-up shop at their events, and Berger realized he was sitting on a goldmine.

Soon, "Little Shop of Hot Sauce" had its grand opening, and it's unlike anything else. This isn't just a store to go grab a bottle of hot sauce, it's an experience. Berger will help you find exactly the kind of sauce you need, like a bartender at a local brewery a little too invested in their job.

The sauces presented at the shop are one of a kind, and cater to every taste and tolerance. The shop is already incredibly popular and looks to expand their influence across the state of Arizona.

[Little Shop of Hot Sauce][Axios]