Michael’s MiniMart

Specialties

Michael’s Mini-​Mart, Featuring Your Favorites by Alice is located on New Mexico Route 68 (the Taos Highway) in the Española Valley halfway between Santa Fe and Taos in beautiful Velarde. Mike’s store has been in the Romero family for over 50 years and is your source for supplies ranging from groceries, snacks, drinks, beer, wine, and liquor and, of course, Alice’s internationally famous food.

If you’re headed to Taos on vacation any time of the year, Michael’s is THE place to stop to gas up, get some food for the road, stock up on your party supplies, and to try some of Alice’s fine recipes. It’s the only convenience store in Velarde and the closest one for more than eleven miles.

History

Established in 1960.

In 1960 Canuto Romero bought the Hudson gas station in Velarde and renamed it «Velarde Country Store», expanding it over the years. Michael and Alice Romero bought a Tastee-​Freez franchise in Espanola in 1971, and in the early 1980s converted it to «Mike’s Place». In 1995, Michael and Alice bought the store from Canuto, and re-​named it Michael’s Mini-​Mart, adding freezers and expanding the store. In 1999, Alice decided to close the Tastee Freez. and opened «Your Favorites By Alice» a café-​deli at the mini-​mart, with the same recipes people had loved in Española. In 2010 there was a fire that almost burned down the entire store; the store was closed from April — October 2010. During that time Michael and Alice did extensive renovations to the store. They both greatly than their loyal customers: since its opening Michael’s Minimart is better than ever!

Meet the Business Owner

Michael R.

Business Owner

Owner, Michael’s Minimart

Serial entrepreneur

Broncos Fan