Alamogordo MainStreet Makeover Unveils Revitalized Heart of Downtown with Grand Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Saturday

Alamogordo, NM – November 28, 2025

In a dazzling display of community pride and economic renewal, Alamogordo’s historic downtown is set to sparkle brighter than ever. Tomorrow, Saturday, November 29, the city will host a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony for the MainStreet Makeover project at 5:30 p.m., celebrating the transformation of the 800 and 900 blocks of New York Avenue. The event, coinciding with Small Business Saturday, where businesses from the 800 Block to the 1200 Block are offering special offerings.

This Saturday ribbon cutting promises a festival of sights and sounds, including live music from The Pickup Band, mesmerizing fire and circus performances by Odd Lab, and tastings from local favorites like Tularosa Vineyards, 575 Brewing Co., and Tumbleweed Tularosa Distillery. Food trucks will line the refreshed avenue, while shops from the 900 Block to the 1200 Block of New York Avenue and White Sands Boulevard—such as on the 900 Blcok Victoria Alamogordo and Roadrunner Galleria—extend hours and on the 1200 Block the 1200 Block Pop Up Emporium and Our Little Country store will be open toll 8 pm for late-night holiday shopping.

The multiple-million dollar MainStreet Makeover, a collaborative effort funded through New Mexico MainStreet’s Great Blocks program, state grants, local capital outlay, and private investments, has upgraded the district’s infrastructure and streetscapes with work rhst begun in October of 2024. 

 Spearheaded by Alamogordo MainStreet—a state-accredited nonprofit dedicated to preserving and enhancing the city’s historic district—the project delivers ADA-compliant sidewalks, elegant new lamp posts, cozy benches, practical trash receptacles, and vibrant public art installations. Also history is honored with Alamogordo’s heritage, including tributes to figures like Otero County Sheriff Bill Rutherford sponsored by General Hydronics Utilities in collaboration with the Tularosa Basin Historic Society. The makeover extends focused on the 800 and 900 blocks is the first step to revitalization in the district that encompasses 8th to 13th Streets on New York Avenue and concurrent stretches of White Sands Boulevard, from La Hacienda to Asian Garden.

“This isn’t just about bricks and mortar—it’s about rekindling the soul of our downtown,” said Alamogordo MainStreet Executive Director Nolan Ojeda, who recent highlighted the project’s successes in a city commission presentation. “The 800 and 900 blocks were already the beating heart of our community, but now they’re equipped to welcome visitors and locals with open arms, fostering creativity, commerce, and connection for generations to come.”

The initiative has ignited a surge in private investment, surpassing $7 million across the district, with  new businesses such as Infinity Sweets 2’s expanded bakery behind the Sands Theater which is being revitalized along with additional creative ventures—set to open in 2026. This momentum builds on earlier milestones, such as the August ribbon-cutting for the Alley 2 Mural Project, where local artists, including Taylor Ojeda’s Buffalo Soldiers tribute at Victoria Alamogordo, transformed alley walls into storytelling canvases in collaboration woth other local artists murals. The district’s evolution also includes new additions to open in 2026 like RAD Retrocade on the 800 Block, Oppenheimer GasHaus on the 900 Block, and a completely renovated Avis building at the corner of 10th and New York which will open late spring of 2026. 

The November 29 ceremony will feature dignitaries from the City of Alamogordo, and Alamogordo MainStreet representatives for the official cut, emphasizing the project’s completion ahead of schedule and on budget after phases that included water and sewer upgrades by General Hydronics Utilities and streetscape, street and sidewalk work by Spears and Crosstown Construction

Family-friendly activities will usher in the holiday season, tying into the broader Christmas on MainStreet lineup scheduled for December 6th  from the refurbished 800 to 900 Blocks, including side-street festivities on 10th and 12th Streets, set for December 6 from 4 to 9 p.m. 

Holloman Air Force Base’s volunteer contributions of over 2,600 hours this year on façades, gardens, underscore the event’s theme of shared service of community partnerships with Holloman Air Force Base. 

 Mayor-Elect Sharon McDonald, a key champion of the project, noted: “We’re illuminating a shared story of service, pride, and unity that defines us… As Alamogordo celebrates new downtown blocks, Christmas on MainStreet, a vibrant parade, and the warmth of our seasonal traditions, we also celebrate the quiet strength behind them—our partnership with Holloman.”

As Mayor Susan Payne soon exits,  this ribbon cutting is the crown jewel of her administration and the dedication of Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez as the foundation for sustainable growth, honoring the past while embracing a future of creative entrepreneurship and tourism, validated by New Mexico Tourism Department’s reports on arts-driven economic impact as a catalyst fir renewal and small business prosperity. Mayor Susan Payne honored the hard work of the construction crews working tirelessly on this project, "These guys have been working double time to get us ready for the “great reveal“. Be sure to join the celebration on November 29th for all the fun!"

For attendees, parking is available on adjacent streets like 8th and 10th, with organizers encouraging walking or carpooling to experience the pedestrian-friendly upgrades firsthand. The festivities align with Black Friday pop-up openings at the 1200 Block Emporium (ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. on November 28), Small Business Saturday and Giving Tuesday specials, ensuring the holiday energy flows into December.

As Alamogordo steps into this new chapter, the MainStreet Makeover stands as a testament to what happens when a community rallies around its history and individuals collaborate for community good. Tomorrow’s grand opening isn’t just an event; it’s an invitation to celebrate the enduring charm of the Southwest’s hidden gem - Alamogordo MainStreet the New York Avenue Business, History and Cultural heatbeat of Alamogordo.

For more details on Alamogordo MainStreet events, visit www.alamogordomainstreet.org or follow @AlamogordoMainStreet on social media.

More News from Alamogordo

• Otero County’s Cherished Tradition: 14th Annual 1st Responders Christmas Eve Dinner Gears Up for 2025 To donate visit the 1st Responders Chrismas Eve Dinner Page on Facebook or reach out to us to connect with Chez
• Sweetening the Holidays: The Heartwarming History of Holloman’s Airmen Cookie Drive and 2025 Highlights Cookie drop off Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, 1301 N. White Sands Blvd., Sunday, Dec. 7, from 2–4 p.m.