Bruce Bracker

Bruce Bracker’s family has been part of Nogales, Arizona, for nearly a century. His grandparents bought an Army surplus store in 1924 and converted it into Jr. Department Store which was an anchor for the retail sector in downtown Nogales serving customers from both sides of the border for 93 years. Bruce returned to Nogales in 1988 and joined the family business, he is an active member in the community and is continuously looking for ways to give back. 

Bruce’s passion for the culinary arts took him to places near, like Tucson, and far, like Europe, to hone his cooking skills and expand his knowledge and appreciation for the industry. 

He was elected twice as Santa Cruz County Supervisor where he focused his efforts in fostering programs that promoted economic development and tourism, modernized local infrastructure and elevated Nogales as a hub for business and investment. He helped secure major investments in the county, including $39 million to repair the International Outfall Interceptor sewer line, $17 million for a grade separation bridge on Ruby Road, and the $134 million modernization of State Route 189. During the pandemic he organized fresh produce deliveries to families in southern Arizona and tribal nations in northern Arizona. 

He has served on multiple local, state and federal boards and commissions, including as a member of the International Boundary and Water Commission’s Southeastern Arizona Citizens forum. He was recently recognized as a “Transportation Hero” during the 2024 Arizona Rural Transportation Summit. He is the owner of Zula’s Restaurant in Nogales, where he can usually be found in the kitchen making pies and doing the prep for the daily menu.