For Carla Villa, running High Noon Restaurant & Saloon is more than managing a well-known Old Town restaurant. It means carrying forward a family legacy while leading one of Albuquerque’s long-standing local businesses as a woman in the industry.
About this series
March marks Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the achievements and contributions of women across the country. As part of that celebration, this series highlights local women in Albuquerque who are shaping their communities through leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Villa grew up alongside the restaurant her parents, Charley and Shirley Villa, opened in the 1970s. Today, she runs the historic space with the same values – family ties, community spirit and hard work – that shaped her childhood. In many ways, her story reflects the evolution of women in leadership within family-owned businesses in Albuquerque.
Villa’s earliest memories of High Noon begin long before she officially joined the business. As a child, Villa spent time in Old Town while her parents renovated the building that would eventually become the restaurant.
“Old Town back then was mostly residential, and there were lovely little shops. My dad would give me, like, $2 and I would run around in Old Town,” says Villa. “I would go to the Basket Shop and buy a scoop of ice cream, and I would walk around and just look at all this stuff. It was just like a regular neighborhood.”
Villa remembers exploring the area as the restaurant slowly came together. “I just had this really beautiful memory of hanging around in Old Town as a little kid, running around while the building was being renovated and getting ready to open,” says Villa. “Those are sweet memories for me.”
Opening night in July of 1974 remains one of the most vivid moments in her memory. Community members and prominent figures from the liquor industry gathered to celebrate the restaurant’s debut. “That night was so magical,” says Villa. “The whole kind of liquor industry came out to celebrate.”
Even at 9 years old, Villa played a role in welcoming guests to the space. She guided visitors through the building, pointing out antiques and historic details throughout the restaurant.
“Every group of people who came in, I took them on a tour of the building and the antiquities,” says Villa. “What I was doing when I was 9 years old I still do every time we hire a new employee.”
As she grew older and stepped into leadership, Villa explains that she sometimes had to overcome assumptions about her role as both a woman and the daughter of the original owners.
“When people would ask to see the owner, I would walk up to the table and they would look me up and down and say, ‘You’re the owner?’” says Villa. “There was a long time of being dismissed.”
Over time, Villa’s confidence grew alongside her experience running the restaurant.
“I have more confidence in my knowledge and my abilities,” says Villa. “But you still have to overcome the idea that you are somehow not quite as qualified because you’re a woman.”
The leadership philosophy that guides her today comes directly from her father. One conversation in particular stayed with her throughout her career.
“He [Villa’s father] said to me, ‘Your employees are your first customers. Don’t ever forget that,’” says Villa. “So you treat your employees well, you treat them with respect, and everything else falls into place after that.”
Villa believes the reason people continue returning to High Noon goes beyond the menu or the historic setting. “I think what has made High Noon unique and precious is the story,” says Villa. “A family-owned business, particularly a restaurant, they’re vanishing.”
That family story is continuing into another generation. Villa’s daughter, Edie Bickel, now helps manage the restaurant, something Villa describes as deeply meaningful. “It’s really gratifying to see my children come to appreciate what a rare thing it is to have a family business,” says Villa.
After navigating challenges such as the pandemic, Villa explains her appreciation for local restaurants has only grown stronger.
“Restaurants are cultural repositories of community memory,” says Villa. “We’re not just getting food here. We’re gathering and witnessing and taking care of each other.”
For Villa, continuing the work her parents started remains both a responsibility and a point of pride. “Yes,” says Villa. “I am absolutely the boss’ daughter.”