Second act: Costumer opens rental business
New Mexico’s film industry is booming and likely to only keep growing, but while the industry expands, some necessities, like easyto-access costume rentals, remain elusive.
Opened in November at 6102 Jefferson NE, Southwest Costume Rentals intends to fill that gap.
Owned by longtime costumer Paula Rogers, Southwest Costume Rentals is designed as a one-stop-shop for productions in need of costume rentals and supplies.
Though the store primarily caters to film and stage productions, Rogers said her business also focuses on providing sewing classes to the public.
For Rogers, opening Southwest Costume Rentals is the culmination of more than two decades working in the film industry in costume departments — in fact, many of the costumes in her establishment can trace their origins to productions Rogers has worked on.
“I started collecting costumes and my collection got so big I decided I needed to do something with it,” she said.
Rogers said her collection steadily grew from several items to large storage trucks before moving into the warehouse space.
Currently, Rogers said she has more than 10,000 items available to rent and is adding inventory every day.
Most of the stock is made up of modern dress multiples, uniforms and period pieces, but the company also sells and rents equipment like steamers and sewing kits.
Many productions typically rent costumes from businesses based in Los Angeles, Rogers said, which means it can be difficult for productions filming in New Mexico to get their hands on specific items at the last minute.
“There is a need for accessible rentals,” she said.
Rogers said that while the store operates during work hours, it also can open by appointment anytime to accommodate those last-minute needs.
Aside from filling a need in the growing film industry, Rogers said she hopes that her business can also provide education, training and support for beginner costumers.
She said the business offers classes for beginner sewing techniques, design, patterning and advanced costuming. Workshop prices range from $60 to $120.
Southwest Costume Rentals is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and after hours and on the weekends by appointment.
For more information, visit southwestcostumerentals. com.
Plants, coffee and art
Want a new plant? Looking to satisfy your coffee cravings? Needing a studio to rent for a photo shoot?
A new Albuquerque
business can help with all of that.
Power Plant, located at 3719 Fourth NW, aims to not only provide a caffeine boost but also a place for local creatives to gather and express themselves through art.
Co-operated by Tytianna Harris and Juan Jimenez, Power Plant opened Jan. 15.
Harris said she found the building before she fully knew what she wanted to turn it into, but the opportunity was too good to pass up so she made the decision to start renting it.
At first Harris said she used the 2,500-squarefoot space primarily as a studio that could be rented out at an affordable price point.
But after meeting Jimenez in the fall, the two began to collaborate and Power Plant was born.
Customers can choose from a menu of coffee drinks or fresh made juices.
Harris said the space is community-oriented and both she and Jimenez drew on travels to different cities like Los Angeles for inspiration.
Jimenez said concepts like Power Plant can be found in other larger cities, but Albuquerque didn’t have anything similar so it felt like a niche that could be filled.
“When you think about it, there’s really like, ultimately, no space that is doing this in town,” he said.
Though the space is operating primarily as a coffee shop and studio, Harris and Jimenez said they are looking into using the space to host events, concerts and art showings.
“I think both me and Ty are just like really focusing on bringing the community together and just like creating another environment for … younger individuals to partake in,” Jimenez said.
Power Plant is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
J. Crew closes only NM store
New Mexico’s only existing location of the clothing store J. Crew is now closed after operating for 10 years.
A company representative confirmed that the store located at the ABQ Uptown shopping center was slated to close Sunday, but signs on the store’s window Friday indicated the store has already shuttered.
The precise date of the closing is not known.
The location first opened its doors in 2012, according to earlier reporting, and specialized in men’s and women’s fashion.
The closure comes a year and a half after the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the coronavirus.
Chili’s opens South Valley location
Chili’s Grill & Bar added another New Mexico location with the midJanuary opening of its latest restaurant in the South Valley.
The newest location, near Coors and Rio Bravo at 3821 Las Estancias SW, opened on Jan. 17, and will employ more than 80 people, according to a company spokesman.
The new Chili’s location will also host the virtual restaurant It’s Just Wings, which specializes in chicken wings available for delivery only.