A Brief History of the Range

The Range Café was started by Matt DiGregory and Tom Fenton, two guys who worked at some of the best restaurants in the Albuquerque area during the 1980’s. In early 1992, Matt stumbled across a great old, adobe building and knew it would make a great restaurant. All he needed was a chef and some money. While discussing the proposition at work later that day, Tom overheard him and said "I can get some money." Matt responded, "Want to open a restaurant?" Tom had the cooking background and Matt was a pastry chef and front of the house manager; an eclectic pair destined to become restaurateurs.

The Range Café debuted in September of 1992 in a funky, old adobe building at 681 Camino del Pueblo, on main street in Bernalillo. The locals anxiously awaited to see what two gringos had up their sleeves. That first day was so busy that the restaurant ran out of food and could not open for dinner. It took about a month before things settled into a groove and confidence was built enough to tackle the evening shift. Before long, people spread the word about this great little place in Bernalillo serving ordinary food made extraordinarily well. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the entire place in 1995. The Range Café was now homeless. What happened over the next two months is a tribute to the kindness of the people who were considered the Range Family.

Almost immediately people came to help clean up the smoke damaged furnishings. Food was delivered to those who came to help. Offers poured in for anything and everything that could be considered help. A benefit was organized to help rebuild The Range. It was a movable feast sponsored by three local bed and breakfasts. Hor’s deurves were served at Hacienda Placitas, dinner at Hacienda Grande and dessert at Hacienda Vargas. There was an art auction with art donated by local artists, whose art still adorn the walls at The Range. Hundreds of people showed up and when it was through over ten thousand dollars was raised. Although the amount was nowhere near what was necessary to rebuild, the confidence it gave to go on was priceless.

The next challenge was, where does The Range go from here? The search began again for a new location. One day, Antoinette Silva asked if The Range would go look at the old soda fountain her and her sister Rose were thinking about renting. At first it was thought she meant just the soda fountain located inside their grocery store. Then after looking at the space it was realized it was not just the soda fountain, but the hardware store, grocery store, drug store and auto parts store their family had run since the 1960’s.

The space was perfect. The building was built around 1905 and was once used as the warehouse of the Bernalillo Mercantile. Throughout the years it was home to a jewelry manufacturing company, a bus stop, and the Lovato Drug Store. The original tin ceiling is still in place and there are still remnants of the old drug store. It was realized right away that this would be the new home of The Range Café. In April of 1996 a deal was struck and by December of that year the original Range Café officially re-opened for the third time at 925 Camino del Pueblo in downtown Bernalillo.

In November of 2000 The Range opened its second location, this time in Albuquerque at the intersection of Wyoming and Montgomery. In April of 2004 the third location of The Range opened on Menaul Blvd near University. Matt and Tom are now proud to announce the newest location of The Range Café when the Wyoming location relocates across the street in July 2008 at 4401 Wyoming Blvd. NE. Don’t miss the incredible mural by artist Roger Evans!

The Range Café has become a favorite place for out of town visitors as well as seasoned locals since 1992. Be sure to check out the autographed plates that adorn the walls at the Bernalillo location... some famous and some infamous. And some just famous to us! The Range considers anyone who visits to be part of the family. If you are a first time visitor or a long time regular…The Range Café welcomes you.