New Business Opens and the New York Avenue Business Growth & Evolution Continues…

Alamogordo’s Cultural Arts and History District of New York Avenue is continuing to evolve with change, growth, reinvention, and evolution. The month of July and into August a significant change will become visible with new businesses opening and established businesses evolving.

A Grand Opening...

Alamogordo’s New York Avenue is now home to a few vintage old school pinball machines that the public may soon access. Where? The new addition to Alamogordo’s New York Avenue is not just old school pinball machines but also a variety of comics, games and more at the new and now opened Zia Comics. 

Zia’s Comics Alamogordo on New York Avenue is modeled after the Zia Comics in Las Cruces. One year in the making of rehabbing their building, they have begun their soft opening this week and are open daily from 11 am to 7 pm. The Grand Opening event is scheduled for First Friday July 7th with a costume contest and according to their staff “lots of fantastic nerdiness.”

A Refresh...

Roadrunner Emporium, which has been very successful in bridging the intersection of history, art, live music culture and history, and is amid its most major transformation ever. Roadrunner Emporium will close on July 2nd and reopen July 7th
as the reinvented Roadrunner Galeria featuring the Local Bodega.

The Roadrunner Galeria will be under the ownership and direction of Linda and Eric Logan, owners of the Local Bodega. The transformation of the 928 New York Building by Linda and Eric Logan will be the reinvention of the next phase of the Roadrunner Legacy.

During the next week the inside of the building will be getting a fresh coat of paint, brightening up the lighting, and the 60 vendors from the Local Bodega will be incorporated into the operation. When one walks into the main floor customers will be greeted with a brighter look and feel on the main floor which will highlight local artisans and be exclusively homemade, homegrown and local crafted complimenting the already existing artisans of the present portfolio. The rest of the facility will continue to showcase fine antiques and collectibles as well as Our Little Country Store featuring primitive and Americana décor.

Linda Logan comes from a long history of retail operations experience and is an artisan in her own right having been a professional homemade soap maker for over 22 years with her product line Old Hag Homestead as her brand of goat’s milk soaps, scrubs, and lotions. The reenergized Roadrunner Galleria will continue with the artisan classes on Monday nights of Diana Sill and will soon be offering an ever more expanded offering of classes from macrame and beyond. Music will remain a component of the portfolio on special occasions. The New York Avenue Ghost and History Tour and the New York Avenue Art Walk will continue, as well as a collaborative offering between the Roadrunner Galleria and KALHradio.org journalist and historians.

That is not even all of the changes and exciting news coming to Alamogordo’s Cultural Arts and History District.

An artisan business returning home...

The Local Bodega building will be transformed into Clay Time Pottery. Clay Time Pottery years ago originated in the historic New York Avenue district, then moved to Granada Shopping Center. Under the ownership of Xochitl Flores and with the support of Aaron Foster; Clay Time is returning to its roots on New York Avenue. 

The transition will begin on July 9th with a planned Grand Opening on July 14th, 2023, on New York Avenue. To give locals a taste of what to expect, First Friday July 7th, Xochitl will be street side, demonstrating glazing and a wheel demonstration. Clay Time once in full operations will be open from 10 to 7 pm adding to the increased number of stores that will be open nights on New York Avenue during the summer. For a class schedule at the new location or for more information call 575-446-9861.

That is not all. 1200 Block Transformation...

The 1200 Block of New York Avenue is transforming as well, and soon to see multiple new artisan businesses open. 

1207 New York Avenue is in the final throws of rehabilitation and will be opening soon as a new gallery space with a planned soft opening soon.  

Next door at 1209 New York Avenue, Rene Sepulveda is focused on transforming the former Dr. Busby offices into a complex of media, art, entertainment and fitness.

Studio Q at 1209 New York Avenue is transforming into an artistic complex that will house the Studio Q Art Gallery Inc, the broadcast studios of Streaming KRAZY KALHradio.org and AlamogordoTownNews.com as well as RENEFit USA Inc. 

This transformation is expected to have a grand opening event in mid to late August with a celebration and street party with live music from DJ Majik 1, food trucks, artist demonstrations and more.

Panic and rumors squelched a POSITVE Path forward...

A few months ago, there was panic, and the social media negative nellies went for blood, when several 1100 Block New York Avenue properties posted "for sale signs." Typical of small-town uninformed rumor mongers, and negative speculators, rumors flew that the survival and the drive for Alamogordo’s Cultural Arts District was dead. That cannot be further from the truth!

The New York Avenue Arts and History District is thriving with reinvention, an influx of new participants and others deepening their commitment, but in different ways than the original path. 

Reinvention means adapting to changes in market conditions, that does not mean the dream or vision is dead or wrong. Modifications to a plan forward, means new and different ideas are to be entertained.  The newcomers, along with those established businesses are sure to add to the vision, passion and success of this important core business corridor. 

Alamogordo’s New York Avenue transformation is going strong and will continue with an evolution of pride, passion and focus. Stay tuned as even more events and announcements of positive change role out of this historically significant district.

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