D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
August
2008
Crafty Move
Thundercreek Quilts and A Bead or Two bring a new
creative center to Bullard Street.
Plus: Ophthalmologists eye Cruces, "green" building, Many
Moons site sells, new "Mr. Ed's" fires up, Star Mountain adds paper
crafts. . . and more business news.
Step into the storefront at 703 N. Bullard St. that housed Western Stationers for decades and you'll experience the union of that fine old store with Silver City's new creative center, the partnering of Thundercreek Quilts and A Bead or Two. Those two business have relocated from Hudson Street and Hwy. 180, respectively.
 |
Nancy Coryell and Cindy Ugarte, the
mother-daughter owners of Thundercreek Quilts, stand at the new entrance
to their business. (Photo by Donna Clayton Lawder) |
The familiar Hallmark brand cards and gifts are all there, colorfully greeting customers from chockfull racks. Head straight down the center aisle and find Silver City's full-service downtown office supply store, still stocked with sturdy reams of paper, passels of pencils and pens, index cards and sticky notes and more.
But now on the other side of the aisle are bolts of colorful cloth, a dazzling array of threads, buttons and sewing notions, a mini library of crafting how-to books. And over on the far wall is a glittering little world unto itself, where racks and shelves hold precious jars and strands of sparkling beads, and glass cases display handcrafted jewelry.
Nancy Coryell, who owns Thundercreek Quilts with her daughter, Cindy Ugarte, explains the crafty metamorphosis.
"We purchased the entire Hallmark business, the office supply business and the Russell Stover business from Don and Lawana (Beems). I know a lot of people thought Western Stationers was just gone, but all the Hallmark, all the office supplies, that's still here," she says. "And once we get things a little more organized, we'll be expanding!"
Coryell and Ugarte dropped the mattress and furniture business that was part of their mix at Thundercreek Quilts' old location, bringing all things quilt- and sewing-related to the new downtown spot in June. Karen Rossman, along with her partner Ken Hansen, purchased A Bead or Two from Jane Alley in May and moved that business down the hill from its former Adobe Plaza location to the Bullard Street storefront at the end of June. Coryell says she and Ugarte will keep the Western Stationers name for at least a year, adding signage for the two new businesses in the near future.
"Western Stationers has a good reputation, it's an established business," Coryell says. Her husband, Ernest Coryell, will run the office supplies business. "We've got all the standard office stuff that people need, and we can order anything we don't have in stock already and get it in just a few days." Some new gift items will be added to the mix there, she says.
All three businesswomen fairly bubble over with enthusiasm for their new location, citing added space for inventory and crafts classes, downtown foot traffic and ample parking. Then there's the dynamic symbiosis of their respective businesses, forming a creative center that they think fits into and will enhance the downtown scene.
Both Coryell and Rossman acknowledge they are happy to be kitty-cornered across the street from Yada Yada Yarn. Of Yada Yada's proprietor, Suzie Calhoun, Coryell says, "She's got an amazing, thriving thing going. With us here, I hope this will be a hub for creative women and that we'll benefit each other's businesses."
Rossman adds, "I can see people coming here, then going over there (to Yada Yada Yarn) to see what else is available, and vice versa. Creative women are into many different things."
Coryell and Ugarte are excited that the new space also allows them to expand the sewing machine sales part of their business. Ugarte says Thundercreek will offer Bernina sewing machines by October, thanks to an arrangement with Marsha Cowan of the Bernina Sewing & Design Center in Las Cruces (see Business Exposure, June 2006).
"She'll travel up once a month for classes, and she'll sell machines," says Ugarte, who is certified in sewing machine repairs. "That means, with the dealership, I'll be able to get certified parts for repairs. I'm in heaven!" She adds that Thundercreek plans to carry Janome and Pfaff sewing machines in the future.
The Thundercreek duo also is inviting other local experts to teach classes at the store, "once we get our back rooms cleared out and get organized!" Coryell says with a laugh. Already planned are classes in quilting, sewing, soap making and crafts like creating artsy purses. Ugarte says she just finished arranging a display of the purses that can be made from patterns and materials the store sells.
Classes also are high on Rossman's agenda for A Bead or Two. "We had our first class already, creating an embroidered, beaded cuff," she says. "Shannon Curry from Two Spirits (Gallery) will be teaching every second Saturday." She pulls out two Egyptian-looking beaded necklaces, "ornate beaded collars," to show the kind of projects Curry will teach at the shop.
Also a teacher at Silver City's Western Institute of Lifelong Learning, Rossman plans to offer classes in cold connection metal and wirework among others at her store. She pulls out three substantial necklace charms — "peas in a pod," made from copper sheet and glass or copper beads — as examples. Josh Stretch, another instructor who also manages A Bead or Two, will offer classes in looming, wirework and basic beading.
"We've got a good variety of classes planned," Rossman says. The shop will offer "open beading sessions" on alternate Saturdays, working with the Silver City Bead Society that meets at Alotta Gelato each month, and add kids' classes down the road.
"We fit eight people around that table right there last week," Rossman says, pointing out a golden wooden table illuminated by the sunlight streaming in two large picture windows. She estimates that one of the classrooms on the premises will hold 12-15 crafters.
Trying to see past the things yet undone, Coryell and Ugarte look over at Rossman, still setting up shop, and at their own storefront that's coming together.
"It's a great move," Coryell says with a smile. "It's a great downtown location and the mix of our businesses feels good."
Ugarte nods and adds, "It's perfect! God smiles on us when we need it. I always say that."
Thundercreek Quilts (538-2284), Western Stationers (538-5324), and A Bead or Two (388-8973, abeadortwo@cybermesa.com, are all located under one roof at 703 N. Bullard St., Silver City.
Closing Down
Chris and Sally Raphael, who own and operate Workshops of Carneros in downtown Silver City (see Business Exposure, March 2007), have decided to close up shop, most likely by the end of this month. He says, "It's been a fun 14 years, but it's time to go play with the grandkids." Look for even better prices on finished and unfinished furnishings, he says, as the store holds an inventory liquidation sale. 405 N. Bullard St., 538-8889.
Silver City Ophthalmology is shutting down by the end of this year, but the practice will live on — still served by Drs. Neal Apple and Edward Hernandez — in Las Cruces. Apple sold his practice to Hernandez, who has been practicing in the Silver City office. Now that a non-compete clause in Las Cruces has run out, Hernandez has decided to return there, where he will practice fulltime and Apple will practice two days a week. Apple says he is interested in other areas of healing — he has a small psychotherapy practice in Silver City and has been studying with curanderos to learn traditional Peruvian plant medicines — and the stresses and overhead of running a fulltime ophthalmology practice took too much time away from those other interests. "So the solution for me was to sell the practice to someone else and then work for him," Apple says. The Las Cruces practice will be called Eyes of the Southwest and be located at 2810 N. Telshor Blvd. Apple says that until December, patients can make their appointments through the Silver City office by calling 538-3721. After that, they should call the Las Cruces number, 523-2020.
New in Town
James and Anthony Chavez have fired up a new business, Mr. Ed's Stoves and More, selling stoves and hearths at 1775 Hwy. 180 E., right next to All-Glass MD. The brothers and former owners of Mr. Ed's Hardware, now Sun Valley Hardware, say they hope to be open by midmonth. "The area is gutted and being renovated right now. We sure don't have our showroom together yet, but we're already doing business," says Anthony Chavez. The business will have 30 units on display. "We service all makes and models. We do in-house service. People can bring their stoves to us for work," he says. "We do cleaning and installations, free installations, inserts and the works." The business has a stove technician on staff. 590-1967, 590-1763, 538-1552.
Mike Brinton — yes, the same Arizona-based businessman whose deal to buy the Buffalo Bar fell through (see Business Exposure, March 2008) — has opened Silver City Tours, offering 13 different historic town and wilderness tours. Among the offerings are a Billy the Kid tour, a Guided Downtown Walking Tour, Historic Downtown tours via an electric Hummer H3 cart, mine tours, an underground tunnel tour, a haunted house tour and a tour of local saloons. 210 N. Bullard, (602) 684-7199, 480-837-6186, silvercitytours.com
Samuel E. Romero, a professional barber for more than 35 years, has opened The King's Den at 4625 Pinon Plaza, the spot formerly occupied by a hypnotherapy clinic. Romero moved to Silver City in December from Utah. "I do straight cuts — good, basic men's cuts," he says. 801-556-0641.
In the "I can see clearly now department," Jay Scott has opened Jay Scott Window Cleaning, a Silver City-based business serving Grant County. Scott does residential and commercial cleaning. Free estimates on-site. Call Scott and he'll be out within a day to survey your glass-cleaning needs. 534-4603.
Artist Deborah Hutchings has just opened Hutchings' Fine Art gallery at 211 B N. Texas St. in Silver City in the space recently vacated by Bob Swisher's Last Day In Paradise. Hutchings will show her own works in watercolors and oils as well as that of other artists in the future, and describes her gallery's theme as "contemporary views of the West." 313-6939, www.debhutchings.com
Jennie's Piece of Cake is open at 11787 Hwy. 180 in Arenas Valley, serving up authentic Mexican pastries, made fresh daily, ice cream floats and sundaes and more. Stop in for a treat or to special order a wedding or birthday cake. Traditional Mexican Bollio bread. Open Tues.-Sat, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., "Unless I run out before that!" says the owner.
Heidi Pirtle wants to bring it on home to you through Chow Bella, her new Las Cruces-based personal chef service company. Pirtle, who attended the Culinary Business Academy in Rio Rancho, first visits the customer at home, does an extensive interview to discover food preferences, eating style, any health conditions and allergies, then devises a custom menu. Once the customer okays the menu, Pirtle goes shopping for ingredients. She cooks in the customer's home, using her own utensils, and leaves some meals fresh in the refrigerator for immediate consumption, then freezes the rest, with heating instructions. Fees are determined by number of meals required and are in addition to the grocery costs. 635-7666, www.chowbellapc.com
Going Green
There are two new companies to turn to for earth-friendly "green" housing, one renovating and building green homes from the ground up and another, a real estate firm, offering consultations for constructing or renovating earth-friendly domiciles. Lizard Stone Builders is the new name of Mark Austin and Daniel Clements' green-building construction company. Clements formerly owned Stage Ridge, a construction company. The two builders decided to join forces, Austin says, and created the Lizard Stone identity. "We're all green, doing zero-energy green homes," says Austin, who describes their customer base as "mostly residential, some commercial." 388-5548, 538-1233.
And Realtor Gary Edwards, with seven years in the business and after working locally for a year with another firm, has created his own company, Gary Edwards Investments. The company offers buyers and sellers free consultation about energy-efficient construction and renovation. Sellers choose the commission they pay, from "full service" to "client participation" options. Edwards previously trained real-estate agents and specialized in contract management. 590-4458, garybbedwards@gmail.com, www.silvercity-realty.com
Bigger and Better
Sierra Community Counseling Center is moving into bigger digs, leaving its building in downtown Silver City for the ex-Many Moons building on Hwy. 180. The business' owners, Michael and Theresa Danlin, purchased the Many Moons property, which has much more land around it, some of it already fenced. Sierra Community Counseling Center specializes in art and experiential therapies (see Body, Mind and Spirit, October 2007); rope and obstacle courses and a climbing area already are under construction on the grounds. "We've already held some of our groups at the (new) facility," Michael Danlin says.
April Redbird describes her business expansion at Star Mountain Trading by saying, "Essentially, we've added a store within a store." Redbird and husband Gregory Jaekel have added a significant amount of scrapbooking and stamping inventory — 500 kinds of paper, sophisticated crafts items like special inks and embossing powders, cardstocks and much more — to their shop on Bullard Street, already an established purveyor of clothing, jewelry, beads and related supplies, books and decorative items. They've also added a brightly decorated and spacious crafts room, where Redbird says scrapbooking, jewelry and card-making classes will be taught. 409 N. Bullard St., 534-0377.
Going, Going, Gone
Desert Blossom Books in Silver City has gone out of business, leaving a lot of red ink on its own books. Kim and Larry Polanco had purchased the business, originally SOS Bookstore, and then last November moved it from College Avenue to 109 N. Bullard St., next to City Hall and across from Syzygy Tile.
With the mini tidal wave of furniture store closings in the city, one begins to fear that Las Crucens may soon be sitting on milk crates, dining off plywood-n-cinder block tables! Coyote Traders, a purveyor of antiques, decorative items and furniture for 30 years on Pichacho Avenue, has closed. The space will be turned into a repair shop for a neighboring business, True-Value Hardware.
Coming Soon. . .
Ground is scheduled to break this month for a new childcare facility, the Grant County Community Childcare Center, in Silver City. It was announced late last month by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, who helped secure more than $160,000 for the project. The facility is projected to open by spring 2009.
The old Economy Inn at 2160 W. Picacho Ave. in Las Cruces is more than halfway to its new incarnation as an American Best Value Inn. The husband and wife team of David Girle and Elina Sihombling has already spent about $600,000 renovating the hotel — open for business the whole time the work has been underway — and expect to spend around $1 million by the time the transformation is complete. The changes include completely upgraded rooms, new AC units, spiffy bathrooms and wi-fi. The couple moved to the area to escape the high temps and rising cost of living in Phoenix. The hotel will have 100 rooms, and Sihombling says she hopes to lease out the property's restaurant.
Pecan Valley Plaza, a new commercial center, will be built at the corner of Valley Drive and Avenida de Mesilla in Las Cruces. C.J. Pierce of Steinborn GMAC Real Estate says the old building, which used to house a fireworks store, will be torn down to make way for the new 55,000-square-foot facility.
On the Move. . .
Casa Alegre Pediatrics, LLC, the practice of Drs. Joanne Ray and Cynthia Rivas Settles, has moved to a new location at 4181 Camino Coyote in Las Cruces. 532-5912, www.casaalegrepediatrics.com
Heart for the World Church is moving into the 34,000-square-foot space on South Valley Drive across from Las Cruces' Wal-Mart. The non-denominational Christian church, started in 1996 by Pastor Dale Walker, purchased the facility from First Assembly of God Church, which itself recently moved to a new location north of US Hwy. 70.
Happy Anniversary
Margie Zamora's Ego Trip Salon is one year old. The cheerful cosmetologist used to own a shop in Albuquerque and has been cutting hair for 18 years, most recently at Cienega Spa & Salon in Silver City before setting up her own shop. 1307 N. Pope St., Suite A. 534-1411.
And put five candles in the cake for Alotta Gelato! Silver City's source for genuine made-on-premises Italian ice cream, delectable baked goods and beverages celebrates five years in business on Bullard Street this month. See their ad in Desert Exposure for a special anniversary offer. Alotta Gelato, 619 N. Bullard St., 534-4995.
Send business news to donna@desertexposure.com