The Orona family has deep roots in Eagar. George Orona was born to a ranching family in the area, and he and his wife, Audrey, raised three children in the small Eastern Arizona mountain town. In 2011, Audrey dreamed up the idea of opening a coffee bar to bring foot traffic into the family’s stove-selling storefront. In the middle of that remodel, though, the Wallow Fire — still the largest wildfire in state history — forced the Oronas to evacuate, and the name “Wildfire” was born.
Today, a map of the Wallow Fire hangs in the entryway of the coffee shop’s current location. The menu of espresso drinks and all-natural fruit smoothies includes alternative milk options and 40 syrup flavors, ranging from hibiscus to prickly pear. The eclectic options give the sense of a hip urban coffee shop — as does the building itself, constructed from a quartet of shipping containers.
The need for a new building became clear at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Oronas hastily added a walk-up window to stay open. (“It’s essential to have coffee,” George says with a grin.) They wanted a drive-thru, so they bought an empty lot on Main Street and drew up a design inspired by shipping-container buildings they’d seen during their travels. The permitting office was skeptical, and so were the neighbors. “Just trust us,” Audrey told them.
When Wildfire reopened in 2023, “Everyone was amazed at what it became,” Audrey says. “It made us proud and happy that we could add something to the community — something different, something nice.”
The interior has what Audrey calls a “warm industrial” feel. Exposed container doors alternate with brick and locally milled ponderosa pine. Customers can gather around the fireplace or sit on the sun-warmed patio. “We built this thing with our own sweat, blood and tears,” George says. When friends and neighbors pitched in, he adds, “It was like a barn raising.”
Specialty drinks include the Honeysuckle, a breve coffee sweetened with local honey, and the Super Trooper, a banana, chocolate and peanut butter smoothie named for the state trooper who requested it. A seasonal favorite is a pumpkin-chai-spiced smoothie topped with maple bourbon cold cream. Stormy Orona, a daughter-in-law, bakes the shop’s sourdough treats, and the Oronas’ daughter Sarah Martin runs a connected hair salon.
Locals are the bread and butter of the business, but Wildfire also catches tourists on their way to hunt, fish or hike in the White Mountains. “Customers tell me: ‘I love the vibe; I love the family feel, the cozy warmth,’ ” Audrey says. “That’s what I want. I want people to feel at home.”
The coffee shop does have a drive-thru, too, but it’s worth getting out of the car and staying awhile. “We’re always willing to sit down and visit with somebody,” George says.
Wildfire Espresso and Smoothie Bar
557 N. Main Street
Eagar, AZ
United States