By Wade Anthony Cornelius
Change – the one constant throughout our lives: people age, develop habits and change environments. As the saying goes, you cannot step into the same river twice. Yet, there is something heartwarming about those cozy nooks that seemingly stay just as they are. Those snug little corners of a city that stand the test of time. Places where you can snuggle in, take in the aroma of yesteryears, let out a sigh and exclaim, “Ah, this takes me back....”
Image caption: Sunshine Grocery Store (Courtesy of Wade Cornelius)
Nestled in the heart of Las Cruces, there is such a place…where children of days gone by would sip sodas on a sun-kissed afternoon and where the neighborhood folk would come, basket in arm, to fetch a hearty pound of cheese or meat for lunch and dinner. Sitting pretty at the corner of Mesquite and Hadley, this spot is known as the Sunshine Grocery Store. But it is more than just a store, it is a tapestry woven with the threads of a community’s soul and has been an icon in the barrio for generations.
The Sunshine Grocery Store is located in the heart of downtown Las Cruces, where it proudly stands near some of the oldest neighborhoods in the area. Surrounding the store are numerous adobe houses, some with roots dating back to the 1800s, proudly listed on the State and National Historic Registers. It’s a neighborhood that continues to embrace its heritage, with many descendants of the original settlers still calling it home.
The architecture of these historic neighborhoods is captivating and speaks to the unique culture of the area. Traditional adobe, Mission, Spanish Revival, and Territorial styles beautifully intertwine, creating a tapestry of design that tells the story of Las Cruces.
Amid these historic structures, the Sunshine Grocery Store sets itself apart with one peculiar distinction: The main entrance is located at the corner of the building. This design allows for increased visibility and accessibility from two intersecting streets, making the store’s entrance prominent and maximizing exposure to foot traffic. For over a century the original door of the Sunshine Grocery Store has remained intact. It’s a door that holds memories, welcoming visitors for decades.
The store was founded over 100 years ago by my great grandfather, Carlos Sanchez. His place in the Las Cruces community began with my great-greatgreat grandmother, a Jewish immigrant from Spain who was forced to migrate and found a new home in Mesilla around 1865. My grandfather grew up just blocks from his future wife, Rosenda Gutierrez, as well as his future home and business. Years later, in 1918, my grandfather decided to open a grocery store. At the time he already owned and operated Sanchez Hardware on Church Street. This was all before any of his ten children were born.
The name for the store was inspired and came from how the sun hits the front of the building. As was the custom of his time, the family home was attached to the store, and it was here that my great grandparents raised their ten children. They became accustomed to the comings and goings of the people in their community.
My grandfather was quite an industrious man. He managed his hardware and grocery store and served his city. He became the City Commissioner and then the County Commissioner...at the same time! For over 30 years Grandpa Carlos was City Commissioner. He remains the only person in Las Cruces to serve both positions simultaneously.
As for the store, family was the key to it being a mainstay in the neighborhood. It is the last store in a community that used to have one on every corner. Keeping the store running required long hours. The store stayed open until 11:00 p.m. At the time, it was the only store open that late.
It was well stocked and the type of place where you could go for a late-night run, similar to the way gas stations and Walgreens operate today. My grandfather was ahead of his time. The store had meats, cheeses, fresh fruits, and vegetables. As a child, I still remember seeing my aunts and uncles slicing lunchmeats and longhorn cheese to order. They worked in the store alongside siblings, nephews, and nieces. There was also a charge account and books with the whole neighborhood listed. Similar to Uber delivery today, my great aunt, Virginia, used to have a Model-T and she would deliver groceries.
Of all my family’s memories of my grandfather and his running of the Sunshine Grocery Store, his generosity takes center stage. If anyone lacked in the community and would come in and ask for day-old bread or for food assistance of any kind, Grandpa would fill a bag with milk, eggs, Coke, pan dulce and freely give it. Keeping prices reasonable for the community and helping those in need was the reason the store never made much of a profit. Grandpa took the same approach with his hardware store.
When I asked my great uncle Harry what it was like growing up in the neighborhood and in Las Cruces in the ‘50s, he reminisced, “All of the Hispanics used to be in this area. We grew up together. There were no arguments. It was the barrio. It has changed a lot, but I remember Barela’s, the barber shop, that’s been there forever. His dad, his kids, all were barbers. Junior’s Plumbing was a block away; but they’ve all gone from the area. We’re still here in the barrio.”
Uncle Harry admitted that sometimes knowing everyone had its disadvantages. “Your great-grandfather was a bullfighter who found his wife in Mexico. They had twentytwo kids. We have a lot of cousins… Barela... Gutierrez. We’re all cousins. Sometimes I’d be talking with somebody we didn’t know, and we’d find out we were cousins!”
My uncle pauses and with a wry smile he confesses, “I ended up going out with three of my cousins! When your grandmother would ask who I was dating, and I’d share with her, she’d say: ‘Harry, that’s your prima!’
The years piled up, and as is the case, many of my aunts and uncles went off to find their place in the world. Some have returned and have settled in homes in the same neighborhood. There is a small park near the Sunshine Grocery Store where we still gather for events and holidays.
Today, the Sunshine Grocery Store has been renamed the Sunshine Grill and the vision is for it to be both a grocery store and fix-to-order grill with the shelves having a little of everything a neighbor might need. During the renovations, the ceiling was opened. It was discovered that the original insulation consisted of mostly dirt. The original vigas and latillas were also uncovered, a pleasant surprise for much of the family who had never seen them.
For Las Cruces, the downtown neighborhood, and especially my family, The Sunshine Grocery Store has always been there. Its future is sunny, and it remains an iconic part of the Historic Mesquite District. For the community surrounding it, The Sunshine Grill is a place to say, “Look, Mijo, I remember when...,” with its 100 years of memories.
The next time you are strolling through Las Cruces, take a ride down Mesquite Street. Do yourself a favor and stop by the store. It is not just a place, it is a journey through time, and an embrace from the past
