Women’s History Month: The 2nd Street Block
On the southeast corner of our Downtown MainStreet District, you’ll find two full blocks of women-owned businesses. This micro-community of businesses are all community oriented and work together in various capacities (events, pop-ups, and the like), while also maintaining their own storefronts and customer bases. On this strip you’ll find local retail, coffee, beer, local art (in all of the spaces), a print shop, and rotating food trucks.
One of the longest running spaces on the block is Zendo Coffee. This beloved Downtown coffee shop is more than just a coffee shop. It has grown into a gathering space for creatives, locals, and visitors where connections of all kinds are cultivated. This past year, owner Pilar Westell was also handed the reigns to Zendo’s next door neighbor, Sidetrack Brewing Company. We were able to catch up with Pilar to learn more and what’s coming up for Zendo and Sidetrack this year.
Along with interviewing Pilar, we also reached out to the other women-owned businesses on the block to learn about what they have found to be the best part of owning a business Downtown, and what some of the challenges have been.
Read the responses from Flyby Provisions, A Good Sign, and The Bloomstone after the interview with Pilar.
Image: Nathaniel Tetsuro Paolinelli
Tell us a bit about you and what inspired you to start your own business?
When I first started dreaming up Zendo, I knew that I really wanted to create a space for the community to gather. I had spent the better part of my 20’s living downtown, and I knew that I wanted to continue to be a part of all the amazing things that were happening in that particular part of the city. I had spent most of my life working in the service industry in some form or another-various restaurants and a few bars, and really loved hospitality. I have always loved connecting with people, and creating a place with delicious coffee and food seemed like the best way to do that. Now with the addition of Sidetrack, I feel like my ability to create space for community and connect with people from all over the city has just expanded.
What drew you to having a business Downtown?
I lived downtown for much of my early 20’s. Both of my kids were born in our downtown neighborhood. I have loved downtown for a very long time. There are just so many amazing people doing such a wide range of talented things. Art, music, food, etc that I knew that this was where I wanted to start a business. And when I found the space that Zendo is in, I just knew-this was the place I had to be in. I was lucky that the owners Dan and Anne were willing to give me a chance. Because at the time, there wasn’t much down this way-no other business were on the block. I remember that a lot of people thought I was crazy. But as soon as I walked in, I knew that this place was special. And it turned out that my intuition was right. This space and this part of downtown are so wonderful and we have seen lots of positive growth on the block with additions like Flyby Provisions, A Good Sign, Bloomstone, and now the Rail Yards Market buying the Sanitary Tortilla Factory.
Now a seasoned business owner in the Downtown neighborhood, what have been some joys or favorite moments? What have been some of the challenges being Downtown?
Oh, the joys and favorite moments are endless. I have been able to meet the most amazing people throughout the years. Some for a season, others that have become lifelong friends and supporters of my shop. I would say it has been the one of the greatest honors of my life to be able to bear witness to so many things. People have fallen in love in my shop ( I actually met the love of my life here and got married a couple years ago), and lots of the important moments happen here if you’re able to really pause and watch. Babies, weddings, new friends, people come to celebrate buying houses, or graduating school. All the big milestones that you can think of have happened at one time or another. Lots of people come here and make new friends. There’s the other side too-people come to share grief. Loss, divorce, sickness within their family. I get to hear about it all. And it is the main reason that I love what I do. Because I get the honor of hearing about it all. I get to be a part of so many people’s lives.
But being a small business owner is not for the faint of heart. Its been 13 years of non-stop work to make this all what it is today. Some of the challenges of being downtown mostly deal with the crime, and lack of resources that are available to folks. We need more public restrooms, and places for folks to have access to basic things like water and food. I wish that we had better help for people that have mental health needs, and drug addiction. Its something that my shop deals with on a daily basis, and we try really hard to help always, but there are lots of times we find ourselves in a situation that is above our abilities and its hard to navigate at times. But really in spite of it all, this particular part of downtown is full of heart and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
With spring around the corner, is there anything coming up for Zendo and Sidetrack this year that you’d like to share?
We are having our first ever book swap on March 14th from 10am-3pm and want everyone to bring books for all ages! Sidetrack is hosting our 4th annual Cask Fest on our back patio on March 21st from 12-4 and we will be selling tickets online of that soon! And Zendo is getting ready to turn 13 this June! So I am planning a wonderful celebration that I hope everyone will come to. Lots of good events happening! Keep your eyes out!
Anything else you’d like to share related to your spaces, being a female business owner, or being Downtown?
Just that I am endlessly grateful to the community that continues to support me and my shops. And a lot of my success I think has a lot of it has to do with the amazing staff I have surrounded myself with. None of what I do would happen without them.
2nd Street Block
Women-owned businesses on 2nd Street include: Flyby Provisions, The Bloom Stone, A Good Sign, Rail Yards Market, Zendo and Sidetrack.
We reached out to Flyby Provisions, The Bloom Stone, A Good Sign, and the Rail Yards Market (now owners of the Sanitary Tortilla Factory) asking them this question:
As a women-run business, what has been the biggest challenge of being in the Downtown neighborhood and what has been your favorite part of being in the neighborhood?
Flyby Provisions: Gina
Biggest challenge:
The biggest challenge of being downtown has been the lack of sustained, long-term support for small storefront businesses. Over the 22 years I’ve lived in Albuquerque, downtown has struggled through many cycles, and too often investment has gone toward fleeting ideas rather than the brick-and-mortar businesses that have committed to the city long-term. Small storefronts are what reflect a city’s culture and uniqueness, yet they often carry the greatest risk.
Favorite part:
My favorite part of being in the neighborhood is recognizing the resilience, resourcefulness, and strength of the businesses around me and in myself. The past four years have brought many unexpected challenges and Flyby is still standing. I’m still here, still learning, and still building. It’s pretty amazing that this stretch of 2nd Street, between Lead and Coal, is run by women and it shows in the care, creativity, and grit that define the block.
Image above shows staff member, Carly and co-worker
A Good Sign: Tami
“I don't know that I've faced any gender-specific benefits or challenges in regard to owning a business downtown, but I will say that I admire and appreciate the other women who own businesses on our block and I feel lucky to be among them.
The only real challenge that comes to mind with being a downtown business owner is the parking situation. We're excited to relocate soon to the newly remodeled Gizmo Arts building (between 4th and 5th on Central), and convenient, inexpensive parking for both my customers and employees is my biggest concern.”
THe Bloom stone: Alanna
Biggest challenges:
Limited Parking
Crime, vandalism, random acts of violence.
People sleeping or passed out in front of our business
Lack of foot traffic
Favorite parts:
Our little street is like a community. And it’s amazing to be surrounded by so many women owned businesses.
The love and appreciation by customers of our shop—“it’s like an oasis”.
Personal relationships we build with our customers and how our regulars feel like family—and they express feeling the same way. They love that we remember their names and they feel a sense of home and like they matter.
Being a source of education for people that love plants and crystals.
We love showcasing local artisans and artists—New Mexico talent.
We love the diversity of our customer base and that everyone feels like they belong at our shop.