Downtown Business Highlight Jason Arsenault

Downtown Business Features

Downtown Business Exit 20 INTERSTATE 40 Highlights Downtown Gallup

ROUTE 66

ONE WAY ONE WAY

INTERSTATE 40

Exit 22

602

2 n d S tree t

Page 11 Camille’s Sidewalk Café and City Electric Shoe Shop Page 12 Sammy C’s Rockin Sports Pub and Grille and Quintana’s Music Center Page 13 Gurley Motor Company Page 14 Yazzie’s Indian Art

Downtowns represent the soul of a city. This is in contrast to the idea of big box stores. There, the businesses are designed with huge parking lots that will accommodate the masses, attempting to make your life convenient (think uneventful). Everyone files into the store, grabbing a shopping cart and making their way around aisles filling it up with almost anything you can imagine, needing or not really needing. Plus, the new trend is you can just check yourself out now not needing the help of an associate. The whole ordeal can be pretty much a solitary experience.

What makes our downtown businesses so unique is that these are individual businesses owned by local community members that give each establishment a different energy. These stores take on the personalities of their owners. Most of them are relatively small which immediately creates an atmosphere where conversations are part of the experience. You will find restaurants that continue serving delightful dishes that have been family recipes for generations. A unique leather shop that showcases repair work that has pretty much become a lost art. Jewelry stores that are filled with our communities beloved turquoise stones. Taking a moment to catch up on what’s happening in the community with your local barber. You can even do your grocery shopping at our local food coop. It is the variety that makes a trip downtown so special.

Downtowns also encourage walking outside, always a healthy activity. Not just meaningless walking, but something that allows you to reenergize. Your senses smell the food being made, coffee being brewed, large murals that brighten the world, the sound of hellos, catching up with old acquaintances or just taking a moment to catch your thoughts in the large Courthouse Square seating area. If we don’t have a thriving downtown community, we kind of lose our community. So, make it a lifestyle change, become an advocate for downtown by spending your dollars locally.

Page 15 Cortez Barber Shop Page 32 Art123 Gallery and La Montanita Co-op Food Market Page 42 Maria’s Restaurant and Weaving in Beauty Page 50 Don Diego’s Restaurant & Lounge Page 51 Rico Auto Complex

Located at 306 South 2nd Street right next to Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe Court House Square, this café offers up a perfect location and menu. You will find the menu has lots of variety including wraps, sandwiches, pizzas, soups and salads. Plus, you get a nice selection of teas, coffees, baked goods and desserts. Many patrons make this a daily stop for the wideopen eating area and the free wi-fi offered to the customers. Owners Kim and James Rich invite you to come down and try one of the tasty menu items. You are welcome to dine-in, call in, or order online. Camille’s Sidewalk Café is open Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Phone: 505-722-5017.

You should make a trip Downtown to visit City Electric Shoe Shop City Electric Shoe Shop just to get a whiff. Nothing smells better than genuine leather and this shop is full of leather products. If you wanted to, you could pick a piece of leather, see it cut and turned into a beautiful product. The store is located at 230 West Coal Avenue and is full of unique items, like moccasins and animal hides as well as a large selection of cowboy hats, boots, and belts. This is also the place you want to visit Downtown when you are needing a Pendleton product. City Electric has new hours due to the current construction and is open Monday thru Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 5 :00 PM. Phone: 505-863-5252.

Sammy C's Rockin Sports Pub and Grille

When you walk through the doors of Sammy C’s Sports Pub & Grille you might think you have left Gallup. This awesome establishment is filled with sports memorabilia, a number of large flat screen televisions, pool tables and a long bar. You can order off the menu and take the time to share a meal with friends or head straight to the bar and enjoy a drink while watching the game. The Fall and Winter are a great time to head down to Sammy C’s to watch the games, several will be airing on the many tv’s. Sammy is maybe the most recognizable citizen in our community, as he has been the voice of our local sports scene for decades. Hours: Monday-Saturday, Noon to 8:00 PM, Sunday Noon to 6:00 PM; Location: 107 West Coal Avenue; Phone: 505-863-2220. Lots of things are happening downtown and one Quintana's Music Center of them is the location of Quintana’s Music Center. They have moved one block east to 112 West Coal, right across the street from Sammy C’s. You will appreciate the large space of the new location. The shop is open and really lets you see all of the great instruments they have available for sale. Not only do they sell musical instruments, but they will also teach you how to play them. For those music listeners who haven’t given up vinyl or tapes you can find a collection here. Plus, you can also order your band instruments through Quintana’s. Stay in touch with Quintana’s through their Facebook page. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Phone: 505-863-5577.

Gurley Motor CompanyWhen your inventory includes the number one selling pick-up truck in America you are going to automatically be a busy dealership. You won’t only find the popular F-150 at Gurley Motor Company, but they also sell the American Classic Mustang. Even if you are not in the car market, it is a treat to stroll the lot and see the Ford line-up of vehicles. Owner Steve Gurley has a dedicated staff that has years of experience to make sure you are going to be delighted doing business with Gurley Motor Company. The Downtown dealership is equipped with a full-service garage that will take care of any vehicle need. Gurley’s is ready to help you Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Phone: 877-647-0599. Your health and safety are our top priority at Gurley Motor Company! Masks are required when visiting our dealership Thank you for trusting us with your vehicle needs! The Gurley Motor Sales Team

Yazzie's Indian Art

Yazzie’s Indian Art has been part of the Downtown Gallery scene for a couple of decades. The shop has moved around a bit, but might have found its permanent home at 121 West Coal. You can always count on owner Colina Yazzie to have spent as much energy in the design of her store as the incredible pieces of art she has for sale. This is a specialty shop that is very different from the large trading posts you will find in the area. Yazzie’s Indian Art isn’t about the number of pieces, but instead concentrates on the quality of each piece. Colina has put together a collection of pottery, paintings, stuffed Native American designed animals, velveteen clothing and jewelry that impresses. The Gallery is open Tuesday thru Saturday from 11 :00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can also visit online at yazziesindianart.com. Phone: 505-870-5610.

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner Call in for to-go orders Serving your favorite cocktails, beer, and wine Specializing in Southwest, New Mexican, and American

Hours: Monday through Saturday from 9am to 7pm 801 U.S. Route 66 • Gallup, New Mexico • 505-722-5517

Cortez Barber Shop

When a business has been around for 55 years, you know they have been doing something right. Barber Dan Cortez joined his father in the shop in 1977 and has been cutting Gallupians’ hair ever since. You just can’t replace the experience of an old school barber shop. This is the place where you get to hang out and catch up with friends and spend a little time in your downtown. Dan is open Tuesday thru Friday from 9:00 AM to 5 :00 PM and on Saturdays he stays open until 5:30 PM. If you have never been to the Cortez Barber Shop you will find it at 103 East Coal Avenue next to the La Montañita Co-op. Remember that the Governor still has COVID-19 restrictions in place, and you will need to wear a mask.