10-26-2024 10:15am

Businesses are Open as 900 Block New York Avenue Utility Upgrades Progress

Chris Edwards Editor

Sidewalks are open and public parking is available at parking lots and the side streets of 10th Street and 8th Street as merchants on New York Avenue welcome guests during the utilities construction phase of the New York Avenue mainstreet makeover project. Phase one has begun with General Hydronics Utilities installing new water lines and sewer services under contract with the city for the 900 Block and upon completion transitioning to the 800 Block as a part of the New York Avenue Makeover funded in part by New Mexico MainStreet's Great Blocks project.

MainStreet Makeover is a $1.9M project to update the infrastructure and street scape of the 800 & 900 blocks of New York Avenue. When the project is complete, Alamogordo will have ADA compliant sidewalks downtown, new public art features, lamp posts, benches, and trash cans.

Project Start: October 14th, 2024

Estimated Completion Date: November, 2025

Vehicle traffic will remain closed on New York Avenue, but pedestrian walkways will be maintained through out construction. Businesses remain open!

In spite on construction work happening the merchants are open and eagerly serving customers. Roadrunner Emporium at 928 New York hosts Clay Pottery Classes and
Workshops downstairs, shopping throughout and the many independent crafters, soap makers and men's clothing partners are stocked and serving customers. Next door Globug is open and welcoming customers each and every day. Up the street at the Venture Academy Infinity Sweets has been serving fresh breakfast lunches and coffees daily and has a super Bacon, egg, cheese croissant that has been popular with some of the street workers. Monicakes is still working and taking orders and of course across the street Veteto Eye Clinic is open as usual, CAPPED is serving its patients and has been exceptionally supportive of the workers engaged in the construction work as it progresses.

Zia Comics is open daily and on Saturday is hosting a major Halloween event at 909 New York all day long. There will be special Halloween comics available (while supplies last), lots of candy for trick or treaters, Artist Andy Perez will be in store signing and selling his uber cool artwork, and it wouldn't be Halloween without a costume contest!

The "Search for the Great Pumpkin" starts at 12pm! Come in to Zia Comics for free comics & candy. Look for participating stores by finding the Great Pumpkin Ringo on the doors of other amazing stores downtown! (we'll have a map in store for parents to help in the hunt).

The (first annual?...) Zia Comics costume contest starts at 5pm! Contestants will give a turn on the catwalk, our judges will deliberate, and our winners will get their prizes immediately afterward! With photos of all our contestants on our social media!Prizes will be Zia Comics gift cards, a pair of tickets to El Paso Horrorfest, a "Bag of S**t" Seasoning & Sauce gift bundle (from Victoria), a free class session (from Desert Threads), an "Alice in Wonderland" wall tapestry (from Globug), and possibly some more cool stuff to be added.

But that's not all, throughout the rest of the month of October, Zia Comics Alamogordo will have limited time only rotating sales specials! Each Tuesday they will announce the sale of the week on the WWUFL (Weekly What's Up Facebook Livestream) at 6pm!

Just up the street Alice Weinman at Victoria at 913 New York has the front and back doors open and inviting customers to drop by and here her ghost stories about Wille on site and of course shop her Christmas wonderland of gifts.

Next door to Victoria Desert Threads is hosting events and is offering the usual array of offerings.

Rocket City Gaming Lounge at 917 New York is open regular hours and hosting a special Magic event Saturday at 7pm..

The Nail Club at 921 New York is open regular hours and hosting nail services per usual. On the backside of Roadrunner Emporium Blush Salon continues a brisk business and encourages people come come on out and see the progress.

Of course New York Avneue is not just limited to the 900 Block. The 800 Block busineses still have street front parking for a few more weeks and encourage customers to come on down. And don't forget the new and renewed businesses at the 1200 Block near Wells Fargo are also part of thr Alamogordo MainStreet District. On 12th Street between White Sands and New York Avenue is the Emerald Market Collectibles Shop and the infamous Our Little Country Store Boutique which is open Tuesday thru Saturday until 6 pm offering Americana and prinitive decor, a huge variety of candles and scented melts and more.

Yes construction is going on, but all businesses are open and inviting the public to shop local. During the construction several buildings are being upgraded internally and next year 2 new brewpubs, a new music store and more will open up with the upgraded makeover adding to the district experience for locals and visitors alike. The district makeover will be an upgrade to Alamogordo that the community will be proud of.