New businesses flocking to Las Cruces
New businesses are flocking to Las Cruces. Officials at the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce thinks this is only the beginning.
Troy Tudor, the vice president of the chamber, told ABC-7 he thinks the milestone 100,000 mark in population has made Las Cruces more enticing for businesses.
Signs are hung up at many new buildings in the area.
Tudor said Las Cruces is growing into a great place for business.
“As soon as we saw the sign, we took it as a leap of faith that it was meant to be,” said Charles Gates, owner of Arabella’s restaurant.
That’s what Gates and his wife thought when they saw that Lorenzo’s in Mesilla was closed. Now the pair is getting ready to open a new restaurant in that building — with a new Latin flavor.
The two have been working for a year to open Arabella’s.
“We tried to create an environment that’s nice and friendly but not too formal. As good as our Cuban food will be, I know our Italian food will be just as good,” Gates said.
On Lohman, you can see new businesses on almost every block.
The Corner Bakery Cafe has several locations in El Paso. This month, the first Las Cruces spot will open.
“We’re looking forward. We’re getting ready. We’re almost there,” said the general manager of the new store.
Tudor said this is a big change from last year.
“Business is the backbone of every community so absolutely when we see that we get excited because it is going to be more jobs, more gross receipts tax gets paid and that helps our schools and paves roads and helps us operate as a community,” he told ABC-7.
Though there may be more businesses popping up, it’s no easy task opening a new business.
“It is an interesting time.We have always taken the theory that if you do it right, you’ll be able to succeed. The economy itself and some of the changes definitely make it interesting,” Gates said.
Gates said after all of the hard work, it will be a huge weight off his shoulders when the doors are finally open.
“If we have that homestyle, fun factor, we’ll make it,” he said.
Las Crucens will soon have a few more options for dining out.
Arabella’s hopes to open at 4 p.m.Oct. 28. The Corner Bakery Cafe opens at 7 a.m. Oct. 25.
