Building Businesses In Valencia County

BOSQUE FARMS & PERALTA — Bucolic views, grazing horses and shaded footpaths are often the mental images conjured up when the village of Bosque Farms comes to mind.

With the goal of living up to the village’s motto — Preserving Rural America — Bosque Farms Village Clerk/Administrator Michael Limon says economic development for the village of about 4,000 residents will ultimately be guided by the council.

“Right now, what I really want to do is meet with local business owners and enhance what we currently have,” Limon said.

The clerk said he also wants to identify struggles of business owners and work toward solutions.

“We are well aware our ordinances are difficult to navigate,” he said. “What can we do to enhance that process? Is there funding we can pursue, money from the Legislature, that will let us enhance how we do business?”

While courting new businesses is in the plans, preserving and supporting historic mainstays of the village are absolutely a priority, Limon said.

“We have to take care of the history we have. Sopa’s, for instance, has a lot of history. We want to enhance that and let that be the focus when it comes to economic development,” he said.

One new and very noticeable development in the village is right on Bosque Farms Boulevard through the center of town — a multi-building campus for an electrical apprenticeship and training program — is going up on 11 acres just south of the North Bosque Loop intersection.

Since construction began on the training facility, a rumor the popular mom-and-pop grocery, Jerry’s Market, located on Isleta Boulevard in south Albuquerque, was going to build at the location began making the rounds.

Jerry’s owner, Breck Stewart, said while he did speak to the project developer about a year ago about possibly being a part of the development, there hasn’t been any communication since. At this time, there are no plans for a Jerry’s Market in the village, Stewart said.

Limon said having a business like Jerry’s, which was said to include pharmacy services, would be a boon to the community.

“The majority of our elderly population has to drive for those services and to have those readily available would be huge,” Limon said.

Gross receipts taxes generated by businesses, both large and small, are the life blood of any municipality and the village is no different.

“Based off the treasurer’s report, GRTs are steady and trending positively. We haven’t seen a decline in some time,” Limon said. “That’s the bread and butter of the village. It’s how we pay for roads and staff. We are at a steady point and comfortable with the operations we have.”

The clerk said it would be interesting to see how the opening of the lineman school would impact GRTs, since those enrolled would be staying on the campus overnight.

While working for the city of Sunland Park, Limon said the city was trying to use GRT revenue from recreational cannabis sales, as well as revenue brought in from the casino and race track, to enhance and grow experiences in the city that centered around families.

“Up here, the challenge is a little different. We are a bedroom community with the vast majority of people working in other towns,” he said. “We really have to look to enhance the businesses we have.”

Limon said village staff will be working to identify the needs and wants of the public by hosting workshops, at some point, to get community input, noting the community “excels at reaching out to councilors and expressing what the needs are.

“If we can do that with economic development, even name-dropping some stores, that’s a great place to start. Companies have a certain price range they look at, and they know Bosque Farms is a healthy, wealthy community.

“If the community wants more name brands, we need to know. Or if we need to find ways to support small, mom-and-pop operations, like ‘so-and-so has a great idea; they just need funding,’ we’d like that input to use going forward to focus on in the future.”

It’s been a good year for new business in the town of Peralta.

Within the past year, the town has welcomed about eight new businesses, including a picturesque coffee shop that not only provides quality brews and treats, but also locally-grown Angus beef.

Branded Coffee & More, located on the corner of N.M. 47 and Wesley Road in Peralta, opened in April and is making waves within the county and beyond, not only for their food and drinks, but also for their unique approach to business, community involvement and celebration of rural charm.

According to its website, “We aim to be more than just a coffee stop; we’re a place where respect for our land and all its creatures meets the warmth of a genuine friendly smile, where stories are shared, and friendships are formed.”

Peralta Town Clerk Kori Taylor said many Peralta residents have been craving a coffee shop in the community, so she is happy they set up shop in Peralta as they are definitely attracting more people to the town.

A new tire shop, Quality Tires, also recently opened in Peralta within the last couple months, which Taylor said is “set up real nice” and is located in the building that used to house Peralta Power Equipment on N.M. 47.

Adah’s Beauty Salon is also a fresh addition, opening a few months ago off N.M. 47 in Peralta next to F & A Auto. They offer a wide variety of services ranging from facials, eyelash and eyebrow treatments, waxing and more.

For those looking to enhance and add to their wardrobe, you’ll be happy to hear that Peralta has also welcomed a couple new clothing stores including B Unique Boutique and Western Charm Boutique, formerly known as Two J’s Boutique.

Western Charm Boutique, on N.M. 47 next to KAES Painting 101, has everything you need to put together a stellar Western look, accessories and all.

B Unique Boutique, next to All Washed Up car wash on N.M. 47, is a place “where style meets confidence and every outfit tells a story.” The boutique boasts a wide-range of styles that is sure to have something for everyone’s unique fashion taste.

Another new business in Peralta that Taylor said is doing well is Sheds of Peralta, formerly Weather King of Peralta, which is on N.M. 47 across the street from Roadrunner Industrial Works.

“Our goal is to give you the top quality for the best price,” the website states. “Our sheds are crafted to suit your needs, whatever it may be, a ‘she shed,’ storage for tools, beauty salon, or just storage, it is built to last.”

Sheds of Peralta offers many styles and varieties of sheds, but if they don’t have exactly what you’re looking for they also offer services to design a custom shed.

Taylor said a couple of new Peralta-based food trucks, Roadrunner Taco Express and Taquería Zapata, have also opened recently, bringing some new flavor to town. While both businesses are mobile, they can usually be found along N.M. 47 in Peralta, serving Mexican cuisine.

Taylor emphasized Peralta is a small town, so they do not have a lot of time or resources to actively attract new businesses, but they are definitely a welcome boost to the town and she appreciates how they help bring the community together.

“We’re always open for it,” said Taylor. “We try to work with everyone and help them succeed.”