Drive-Thru Businesses Rev Up for Success
Plus a Chinese-food comeback, retail musical chairs, a new satellite Internet solution and more business news.
Spotlight on. . .
Drive-up Mercados
In addition to Sonic's well-known retro-style drive-up service and Don Juan restaurant's satellite burrito business out of a local car dealership's parking lot, Silver City is home to several established businesses selling their wares exclusively from drive-up venues. We'll focus on three in this column. If you own or patronize a drive-up business, (or any other business for that matter) that you'd like to see mentioned in a future column, please tell us about it so we can throw a spotlight on it!
Sunrise Espresso
Having passed the three-year mark, Steve and Allena Thompson's Sunrise Espresso drive-up kiosk is a well-known coffee outlet that's here to stay. Steve Thompson says the couple took their time learning about the coffee business–taking seminars offered by their coffee supplier, Fox Hollow out of Seattle, the acknowledged coffee Mecca of the US.
Sunrise Espresso co-owner Allena Thompson.
"We were training ourselves, learning about the business, took a bunch of professional seminars for baristas. . . and all the various ways to start up a business," Thompson says. Having lived in New Mexico himself for 25 years, and with a 35-year connection to Silver City through his wife's parents, the couple naturally came here when they decided to start up their coffee business.
The low start-up cost of building a coffee "hut" was very attractive, he says. He pays rent to Steve Maxwell for space in the parking lot on Hudson Street (Hwy. 90) near the Harvest Christian Fellowship building, formerly Fashion Max. And keeping his own costs down, unburdened by "brick-and-mortar," allows him to price his wares competitively.
Offering customers drive-up convenience was another factor in deciding to do business this way, he says. There are plenty of coffee shops in downtown Silver City, he admits, so offering quick access would be a selling point of another kind.
But it's not just about easy-in and easy-out, Thompson says. It's about the coffee, too. "I could have all that–access, convenience, good pricing–but if I served bad coffee, nobody would come," he says.
To that end, he says he's proud to offer top-quality coffee and to make his drinks with only the best ingredients–like Ghirardelli chocolate in the mochas.
Over the past three years, Thompson says he's been blessed to develop a great crew of five, counting himself, people with "something special, that drive to make things happen, keep the flow going and make customers happy.
"You build up trust when you're serving up quality like this," he says. "Every (customer) who comes through is a friend. I've known them on a daily basis for three years. You get to know them, their family."
Sunrise Espresso is Thompson's first try at self-employment, and he admits that starting a business where he's on the job at 6 a.m. was "a major lifestyle change."
But he adds that given the success so far–and all those smiles from satisfied customers–"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Sunrise Espresso is located at 1530 N. Hudson St. in Silver City. Open weekdays 6 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Closed Sundays.
Miko's Tacos is another drive-up business that recently passed its three-year anniversary. Owner Michael Saucedo brings 15 years of professional food experience to the extremely colorful little building on Hwy. 180, near the intersection with Corbin Street, on the corner across from Gabriel Ramos' State Farm Insurance office.
But just because the Mexican food outlet has drive-up convenience, don't make the mistake of calling it "fast food." In fact, a small sign in the window proclaims "Fresh–Not Fast." Though most orders take just five minutes from drive-up to pick-up, Saucedo acknowledges the drive-thru line can get backed up as he and his staff of three grill and assemble everything to order.
"Everything is made fresh," Saucedo says. "Sometimes things take a little while to come out the window, but people are always happy when they taste it."
To help speed things along, Saucedo encourages customers to call in orders–the phone number is posted prominently on the front of the little building. This has worked well in handling local businesses whose employees call in one gigantic lunch order or WNMU sports teams with post-game hunger pangs.
Quality is important to Saucedo, and he's looking to satisfy discerning consumers. He does not use lard in the refried beans, and whole-wheat tortillas are available upon request.
Saucedo says his best-selling item is the Breakfast Con Todo burrito, which, despite its name, is served all day long. The little drive-up restaurant also serves tacos, plates of nachos and enchiladas, and all the sides–sour cream, guacamole, rice and beans, pico de gallo and more.
Locals may remember a time just over a year ago when the stand shut down for a period of time, then re-opened, emblazed with its new, bold paint job.
"I knew I needed more attention, so I got some really great artists to paint the place up so you can't miss it," Saucedo says. He grins. "You know, it sure has worked."
The business has a strong core of regular customers, Saucedo says, adding that he sees new customers every day. The breakfast and lunch business has been good from day one, he says, but lately people are discovering Miko's Tacos for dinner, too.
"People are finding out how great the food is and they are picking it up for an easy dinner now," he says. "I try to be the best you can get anywhere, drive-up or not."
Miko's Tacos serves breakfast, lunch and dinner most days. Monday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Call in orders: 538-5440.
Like a phoenix rising from its own ashes, the Smoke Shop owes its current success as a drive-up tobacconist to a happy accident. Owners Ray Marquez and Edward Alvo were thinking of closing their convenience-store business a few years ago. Business was flagging and they decided to cut their losses, lowering prices to sell off inventory.
"Suddenly, cigarettes started selling like mad," recalls Marquez. "We had to reorder just to keep some in the store while we sold off the other stuff. It just kept going like that, so we kept our prices low and kept re-ordering, and we realized we should just focus on that."
Keeping prices low has been a strategy ever since, he says, and you can't beat the drive-up convenience when the nicotine urge hits and you need a fresh pack. In addition to packs and cartons of all the major brands of cigarettes, the shop stocks a range of cigars, loose tobaccos, chewing tobaccos and all make-your-own cigarette products–from rolling papers to machines that do the job for you, with filters.
Marquez and Alvo started out as business partners selling shave ice, then graduated to the convenience-store business, first in a kiosk near Iniguez Physical Therapy in Silver City and then at their present location in a little driveway off Hudson Street between the car wash and the Christian Harvest Fellowship parking lot. Though the business does have walk-in access (you must be 21 to enter), most commerce is done at the drive-thru window, owing to speed and convenience, Marquez says.
The Smoke Shop has been around for 10 years now and employs five people.
Marquez says the business has a lot of regular customers, looking for their fresh tobacco products–"We turn our inventory fast," he says. "It's always fresh."–and good prices. But a lot of tourists are passing through, too, he notes. "We get a good number of out-of-towners now," he says. "Word gets ourt about our selection, our specialty products, and our prices, too."
The Smoke Shop is open daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; drive-up
only after 7 p.m.
On the move in Silver City
Yada Yada Yarn has moved up Bullard Street and is now welcoming retail customers and knitters into the space in Art & Conversation just vacated by The Curious Kumquat (now in the former Lusk Flowers building on College Avenue). Yada Yada is now open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. every day but Tuesday, with open knitting on Sundays, 12-3 p.m. Shop owner and knitting maven Suzi Calhoun says there's still time to knit a gift scarf or classic Christmas stocking.
Barb Fila, founder, owner and chief baker for Bad Ass Bakery in Silver City, has opened a storefront location in the old Black Diamond Bakery on the corner of San Vicente and Bullard Street. Having established her baking business since moving to Silver City three years ago, Fila currently sells her decadent desserts through a number of downtown retail outlets, including Alotta Gelato, Rejuvenations coffeeshop and the Silver City Food Co-op. Fila says in addition to selling her goods to go, the space has limited table seating and a patio. She also will serve breakfast burritos, soups and sandwiches. Bad Ass Bakery is open Thursday-Saturday 6 a.m.-4 p.m., 8 a.m.-12 noon on Sunday, closed Wednesday.
Mountain Air Productions, a full-service recording studio, will open in Suite A of The Wherehouse at 305 S. Texas. The business is owned and operated by David Furnas, an executive with Gila Regional Medical Center and 40-year bass player with a background in analog recording, and Robert Branch, a new guitar professor at Western New Mexico University and an experienced digital recording engineer. After completing an extensive specialized renovation of the space, the two hope to start booking clients by February. The studio's services will include CD and commercial spot recording, voice-overs and film scoring. For info and booking: 313-1160, 538-1944.
Island Spirit, a gallery and gift shop, has opened in the Silco Theater, owned and leased by MainStreet Project, in the space recently vacated by Alice Pauser's Silver Confectionary.
James Walker, who owned Threads clothing store for seven years at the intersection of College and Bullard Street, will soon open Video Game Outlet at 206 E. 11th St., near the Allstate building, selling new and used video games.
New owners
A&L Feed 182 Truck Bypass Road in Tyrone, has been purchased by Beverly Kirch. "We are so happy to have purchased a well-established business," says Kirch, "and we are keeping the company name, selling all the same feeds and products, and we hope to expand even more in about a year."
Domino's Pizza on Bullard Street in Silver City has been purchased by Phillip Beck, owner of Beck Properties in Las Cruces, which is developing a four-unit commercial site there. The first tenant in that property is–a Domino's Pizza! Get the door!
You want fried rice with that?
Silver City-ites will soon have an amazing number of Chinese food options. Golden Star Chinese Fast Food has overcome its permit difficulties mentioned in last month's column, and is on the fast track to open at 1602 Silver Heights Blvd. (Hwy. 180). The building is currently under massive renovation and looking better every day. Prefer to sit down for your wontons? China Gate will soon open just a little farther up Hwy. 180 in the former Double Eagle restaurant. Owner Jimmy Ho anticipates an early December opening, and the restaurant currently is looking to hire help. Ho also owns and operates a Chinese restaurant in Montana. These Asian eateries join Silver's established Chinese restaurants, including Chinese Palace, also on Hwy. 180, and the Golden Dragon on Pope Street, now under the new ownership of Wayne T. Xie, as mentioned in October's column.
Expanding
A.I.R. Espresso Cafe/Roasting House in Bayard is living up to its name. For those who didn't know, A.I.R. stands for Artist In Residence, originally a tip of the hat to the company's founder, Jacqueline Shaw. Not only is the business' new owner Louis Baum an artist, but the cafe recently added an art gallery, presently showing the paintings and sculptures of Libby Beck, Linda Talbott, Sandra Ho and Teresa Ali-Olvais. The gallery's first artists' reception will be held Jan. 12, 5:30-7 p.m. Baum says business is building since he purchased the roastery earlier this year and he is looking to add more commercial accounts for his coffee, custom-roasted on the premises in small batches.
Satellite Solutions and Cellular, at 1780 Hwy. 180 near the Hilltop Snappy Mart, is now offering Wild Blue Internet services. Owner Albert Madrigal says the service delivers "affordable high-speed Internet service anywhere, no matter what. All you need is a little power." The satellite service offers quite a solution, indeed, for many local residents who find themselves "off the grid" or facing interference of a mountainous nature. Having started the business "out of the trunk of my car" in 1999, Madrigal says he operated for a time from the sno-cone booth near Silver City's Food Basket grocery store, then moved to his current location in June 2000. Since he began selling Wild Blue in October, his business has more than doubled, he says. Call the office at 534-8231 or the Wild Blue Hotline at (505) 313-2224.
Ch-ch-changes. . .
Spaghetti Western will soon undergo some major changes. As of Dec.24, the Silver City Italian eatery will be closed until mid-January, and then re-open as Spaghetti Western Mercato and Deli Italiani, an Italian market and deli. The regular menu, sauces and specialty items will be available as prepared items and there will be complete hot dinners, prepared daily, available for pick-up. Dinner will no longer be served nightly; however, lunch will be served (in the cafe or take-out) Friday-Monday, and "family style" dinners served twice monthly on selected Saturday nights. Chef-owner Jake Politte, the self-proclaimed "pasta Nazi of Silver City," says it's time for him to have a life and not have to work every night.
New in Las Cruces and Mesilla
50-50 is the new venture at 1800 Avenida de Mesilla of business partners Matt Bleything and Richard Parra. Bleything has opened his second Lulu's shop, selling jewelry, home accessories and other items, in the space. The original Lulu's, located on Calle de Guadalupe in Mesilla, has been in business for two years now and will remain open. Parra owns the Spirit Winds coffee house. The new Lulu's, which celebrated its grand opening at the end of November, occupies 4,000 square feet of 50-50's building space. The remaining 2,800 square feet will be leased to St. Clair Winery and Bistro, which will, as previously reported, replace the Blue Teal wine-tasting room on Avenida de Mesilla. Deming-based St. Clair Winery hopes to open the new facility sometime this month.
Domino's Pizza will be the first tenant in a four-unit commercial site being built by Beck Properties on North Main Street, next to the church that used to be the New Mexico roller skating rink. As noted above, owner Phillip Beck also recently purchased the Domino's Pizza on Bullard Street in downtown Silver City.
In more fast-food news, a new McDonald's is slated to open mid-December at the corner of Boutz and El Paseo in Las Cruces. The city's original Mickey-D's on El Paseo, which opened in 1972, will close when the new restaurant opens. There are six McDonald's restaurants in the Las Cruces area plus two in local Wal-Marts.
Anna's Linens has opened in the Mesilla Valley Mall, selling all manner of home accessories. f.y.e., featuring music, DVDs, games and electronics, also has opened, just in time for the holidays. And CJ Banks joins the mall's numerous clothiers, offering women's apparel in sizes 14 and up.
Taking care of business
The Small Business Development Center at 2345 E. Nevada Ave. in Las Cruces will present two luncheon workshops of interest to business owners: "Insuring Your Business," Dec. 5, and "Operating in the International Market," Dec. 12, both 12:15-1 p.m. For those just starting out, "How to Start and Operate a Home Business" will be offered Dec. 12, 6-7:30 p.m. Information and registration for these free seminars: 527-7676.
Business Exposure is a monthly column that focuses on local business from all angles. Each issue spotlights a featured Southwest New Mexico business, and updates ongoing business items of interest. Feel free to suggest business topics for the column, and let us know about your own business' changes and newsworthy events; send to donna@desertexposure.com.
