A large red ribbon was cut in the early morning of July 18, signifying the grand reopening of The Merc, a local grocery store located in the Homestead Village Plaza in Placitas.
Members of the Placitas Chamber of Commerce, owners of The Merc and a large crowd of shoppers attended the event with great enthusiasm.
“It looks like a real grocery store, not a convenience store!” said one shopper.
After a short-lived stint by the previous owner Gabriel Holguin, the grocery store sat vacant for six months.
“Even before it was up for sale, it was just such a unique part of the community, a real heart,” said Tony Micklos, one of the co-owners.
Joe and Shery Welsh moved to Placitas from Washington, D.C., in 2023 after The Merc had already closed. Joe Welsh said he’d heard so many good things about the store from the community, that he and Shery wanted to try to open it back up. He said investing in The Merc meant investing in the community he and his wife have come to love.
“We just felt it was something that we needed to get done, and get it back for the community,” he said.
The new version of The Merc includes a robust wine and spirits section, as well as a deli and grocery staples. Prior to opening, the owner put out a community survey to see what Placitans wanted in a grocery store.
Welsh said the community was very supportive of their plans.
“We’re just taking it one step at a time,” he said. “I know the rest of the partners have big plans, they have a vision, and I’m sure this is just the beginning.”
The store’s hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.