Cafe Bella 10 year anniversary charcuterie board. (Cafe Bella Facebook)

 

Cafe Bella Coffee marked 10 years of being open this month after celebrating its election as runner up in the Rio Rancho Observer’s Reader’s Choice awards on Dec. 1.

“Thank you so much for all the great support over the years! We are honored to be your neighborhood cafe,” owner Michael Gonzales said.

Cafe Bella, on Golf Course Rd., started out in Seattle, where the coffee scene was popular in 1984.

Later, Gonzales moved back to his hometown in New Mexico and discovered the coffee scene was nonexistent.

According to the website, the cafe was able to use the economy issues of 2011 to pull itself out of the dust for service.

Michael Gonzales, owner of Cafe Bella Coffee, speaks at Toys for Tots Show and Shine. (Michaela Helean)

Since then, its traditional street tacos and special coffee blends have kept it alive.

Food and coffee aside, it is the home of New Mexico Motor Events.

The car club hosts several shows throughout the year, including its Friday night car meet, which happens every week except for Christmas week.

The car meet is a local attraction where anyone can bring a car and show it off. There is no judgement when it comes to the car, though, according to Gonzales.

His older Ford joins in the meet and sports the Cafe Bella logo.

The club also hosts several donation events. Just this past Sunday, they hosted the Toys for Tots Show and Shine.

Gonzales and his team hope to continue bringing cars and caffeine to the locals.

“If we can serve well and put a smile on someone’s face and something delicious in their tummy, we have done well,” the Cafe Bella website says.

Customers can buy a 10-year anniversary charcuterie board over the holidays. They also offer e-gift cards.  Here is a link to the website.