For the Mountain Mail
QUEMADO -- Owners Tommy and Joy Padilla have opened the doors to Rito Quemado on Friday, May 28, 2010.
Quemado's new convenience store and gas station is located off Highway 60 in the middle of town. The project has been in the making for over three years with it ups and downs.
The Padillas had help from their sons Jared and Kriston Padilla who own and operate A-3 Demolition in Queen Creek, Ariz. 
“It was Jared and Kriston who got the site cleaned up and ready,” Tommy said.
Their daughter Dr. Stephanie Padilla, an OBGYN with Lovelace Women Center in Albuquerque came down and assisted when she was able. When asked why a convenience store, both Joy and Tommy agreed it was “something needed in town and we felt it would do good.”
Why the name Rito Quemado?
The Padilla family goes back a ways in Quemado history. Tommy was born and raised in the area. Steve and Placy Padilla are Tommy's parents and still very active in the community. The store name blends some old and some new. The original Indian settlement site was at the base of Rito Hill about four miles east of the current Quemado and back to the north. El Rito means little river or creek. According to Tommy, this is where an area was cleared “burned” of brush so that animals could be easily hunted for food.
Paul Templeton, a very familiar face in Quemado, will manage the store with about four other employees.
“I am very excited and hope everyone comes to see us,” Paul said of the opening.
”We are planning a special grand opening on the 4th of July,” Tommy said.
The gas station/store carries a full selection of fuels, convenience foods, fresh produce, dairy and everyday staples. You will now be able to purchase lottery tickets and scratchers in Quemado.
The store will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The gas pumps will be available 24 hours a day. The store phone number is 575 773-4664.
Posts
Hi, This is a real long shot but I'm writing from Colchester, UK, to ask if there is anywhere local I might make an enquiry about an ancestor of mine who was born in Rito, Quemado? His name was Francisco SAIZ and he was born on 23 Oct 1910. He only lived until he was about 17 years old when he died in a horse accident. Francisco was the brother of my Grandpa, Manuel SAIZ (born 1 Jan 1909 at Quemado). My Father, Benjamin SAIZ currently lives in Ramah and when we visit him we often drive through his old home town.
ReplyDeleteFurther to my earlier posting can I also ask if anyone local knows the name of the husband of Casimira SAIZ, who was a sister of the above mentioned Francisco SAIZ? Casimira was born 28 Aug 1906 in Mangas, so she would have been married anywhere between 1920 - 1930. Any help would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThis store is AMAZING! Very clean, very friendly service, they have just about ANYTHING you could possibly need. I had the pleasure of getting to meet the store owners, Tommy and Joy Padilla, and they were the sweetest people I have ever met. They are the backbone of a small rural community store, and I cannot stress that the cleanliness of this store was beyond any expectations of a rural gas station restroom. I would STRONGLY recommend that in the backroads on New Mexico, if you can manage to wait until you get to Quemado, I promise you it will be well worth it. Thank you to Tommy and Joy as well as the terrific staff of The Rito Quemado store in Quemado NM! BRAVO on a job well done! A VERY SATISIFIED CUSTOMER FOR LIFE!
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to get a 6-pack of beer there to ?
ReplyDeleteAffirm. Wine and beer are available
ReplyDelete