The 2025 Business of the Year winners include Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op, Beef & Leaf, Blue Window Bistro, The Family YMCA, Flowers by Gillian, Los Alamos Co-op Market, Los Alamos County, Los Alamos Daily Post, Pajarito Environmental Education Center, Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse, and Zia Credit Union, selected after 527 votes cast by the public, gather for a group photo Friday on stage at the pond. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
During a special ceremony on stage at the Summer Concert Friday night at Ashley Pond Park, the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce honored the 2025 Los Alamos Business of the Year recipients.
Voted for by the community, the annual Chamber Awards presentation recognizes the hard work, dedication, and perseverance of these businesses and organizations.
2025 New Business of the Year: Beef and Leaf Cafe
Beef and Leaf Café, led by Owner/Chef Laura Crucet, was created on the dream of taking the comfort food offered at Pig + Fig Cafe, and upscaling it to a new level of dining. Crucet’s vision was to take the experience of the Pig + Fig Cafe wine dinners, and offer it all week, year round. As a result, Beef and Leaf Café, at 3801 Arkansas Ave. Suite G, provides an upscale dining experience, all while maintaining the same warm atmosphere and familiar food from her first restaurant. Not only is the food familiar, but at Beef and Leaf Cafe the menu is crafted based on seasonal ingredients. Beef and Leaf has a dynamic menu always changing with the seasons, in order to use the freshest ingredients available throughout the year. Whether you would like to celebrate a special occasion or a quick snack with friends, come in and enjoy seasonal hand-crafted comfort food, paired with unique wines, local beers and craft cocktails. Visit https://www.beefandleafcafe.com
2025 Family-Friendly Business of the Year: The Family YMCA
The Family YMCA, led by CEO Chris Daniels, was founded by volunteers in 1955. At that time, Los Alamos was a “closed” community due to the top secret work of the National Laboratory, and the isolation and lack of activities were community concerns. This put The Family YMCA on the historical map for two reasons. For one, the Y came into existence through an Act of Congress. Community volunteers had to petition Congress for permission to operate and for a place because all land and buildings were federally owned since World War II’s Manhattan Project. The other historical fact is that The Family YMCA is the unique name ascribed to this Y in Los Alamos. It is the very first “family” YMCA in the United States of America. Since 1955, some 480 of the U.S.’s 2,700 YMCAs, now incorporate the word “family” into their name, but the local Y was the first one. The Family YMCA, at 1450 Iris St., is a charitable, community-serving organization that promotes values, leadership development, service-learning, community interaction, healthy life choices and active lifestyles. Visit https://laymca.org
2025 Non-Profit of the Year: Pajarito Environmental Education Center
Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), led by Executive Director Jillian Rubio, is a non-profit organization that connects people to nature through indoor and outdoor exhibits and programs, operates the Los Alamos Nature Center at 2600 Canyon Road. The Los Alamos Nature Center exists for and because of the Los Alamos community, which voted to use Capital Improvement Project funds to build the nature center in 2012. Los Alamos County awarded PEEC the contract to operate the new facility, which opened on Earth Day, April 22, 2015. Since then, PEEC has welcomed people from around the country and the globe to explore the nature center and discover nature in Northern New Mexico. Equipped with a full-dome planetarium, wildlife observation room, indoor and outdoor play areas, and interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits, the Los Alamos Nature Center is a great place to orient to the region and enjoy the breathtaking views of canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies. PEEC serves 40,000 adults and children per year with the nature center; public programs such as talks, hikes, outings, and classes; school lessons and field trips; and state-of-the-art planetarium. Its mission is, “Enriching people’s lives by strengthening their connections to our canyons, mesas, mountains, and skies.” Visit https://peecnature.org
2025 Financial Institution Business of the Year: ZIA Credit Union
ZIA Credit Union, led by President/CEO Dwayne Herrera, was founded in 1955 by a group of 200 individuals working at ZIA Company, a support contractor for Los Alamos National Laboratory, who felt they needed their own financial institution. The management chose to become a state-chartered credit union. In 1975, ZIA Credit Union membership was expanded to include the entire community of Los Alamos. By 1995, ZIA Credit Union was expanded once again to include all people living, working, or worshipping in Rio Arriba County. In 2008, ZIA membership opened up to Santa Fe and Taos counties. Today, Zia Credit Union at 1001 Central Ave. is a thriving, member-owned, cooperative financial institution with more than 12,000 members. While its roots remain firmly planted in northern New Mexico, ZIA Credit Union serves its members wherever they may be, through digital and online banking, 30,000 fee-free ATMs, and 5,000 shared branches. Visit https://www.ziacu.org
2025 Restaurant of the Year: Blue Window Bistro
Blue Window Bistro, led by Owner Melissa Paternoster, has been serving Los Alamos for more than 40 years. Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner at 1789 Central Ave., its focus is on fresh, quality food made from scratch, sourced locally and seasonally whenever possible. Blue Window Bistro’s broad menu offers everything from artisan salads and sandwiches, to fresh seafood and steaks. From the fresh squeezed juices used in all its specialty cocktails to its decadent desserts and savory sauces, diners taste the difference in Blue Window Bistro’s farm-to-table approach to cooking. Visit https://labluewindowbistro.com
2025 Retail Business of the Year: Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse
Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse, led by Owner Jill Lang, is a local independent bookstore featuring unique books and teas at 174 Central Park Square. Samizdat Bookstore & Teahouse also offers a full calendar of community events. Visit https://www.samizdatbookstore.com
2025 Large Service Business of the Year: Los Alamos Cooperative Market (more than 10 full-time employees)
Los Alamos Cooperative Market, led by General Manager Thomas Salazar, opened its doors in March 2011 after members of the Los Alamos and surrounding communities decided they needed a Cooperative Grocery Store that supported sustainability, local farmers, natural ingredients, and community. The mission of the Los Alamos Cooperative Market, at 95 Entrada Drive, is to serve Los Alamos County and surrounding communities by providing fairly priced, wholesome foods and other goods in an ecologically sustainable, socially responsible, and economically appropriate manner. Visit https://losalamos.coop
2025 Small Service Business of the Year: Flowers by Gillian
Flowers by Gillian, led by Owner Gillian Sutton, is a family-run business. Sutton has more than 30 years of floral experience. Many longtime residents remember her from the years she was the local grocery store florist. Flowers by Gillian is at 3801 Arkansas Ave. #A in the Hilltop Shopping Center. Visit https://www.flowersbygillian.net
2025 Woman Owned Business of the Year: Los Alamos Daily Post
The Los Alamos Daily Post, led by Owner/Publisher Carol A. Clark, is the Official Newspaper of Record in Los Alamos County. A state and national award-winning newspaper, the Post opened in February 2012 and has expanded its readership to every state in the nation and 129 countries. The news team works in collaboration with citizens throughout the community from its world headquarters at 1247 Central Ave. The paper’s number one goal is to bring readers the best in local news coverage through print, photographs and videos. With its focus on the events occurring throughout Los Alamos and White Rock, the news team reports from the neighborhoods, schools, businesses, financial, cultural and faith-based communities, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos County, Los Alamos Police and Fire Departments, Los Alamos Public Schools and UNM-Los Alamos. Visit https://ladailypost.com
2025 Sustainable Los Alamos: Los Alamos County
Los Alamos County, is recognized for its sustainability and conservation initiatives. Led by County Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule, the initiatives aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and advance other sustainable practices county-wide. This effort is guided by the many recommendations presented by the Los Alamos Resiliency, Energy and Sustainability (LARES) citizen task force and responses from the community. Visit https://www.losalamosnm.us/Initiatives/Sustainability-and-Conservation-Initiatives
2025 Best Co-op Organization: Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op
Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op, led by General Manager Doug Osborn, fosters a family-friendly, laid-back atmosphere at 163 Central Park Square. The Tub is open seven days a week: noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and noon to 11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. The Tub welcomes the community to stop by for a drink after a day at work, or a day enjoying the incredible sights and outdoor activities around the Los Alamos area. Visit https://www.bathtubrowbrewing.coop
2025 Chamber Community Partner
An additional award was presented this year by the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce to Enterprise Bank & Trust for its notable work in Los Alamos to support various community initiatives, including economic development, small businesses, historical preservation, and cultural and social services.
Gathered with their 2025 Chamber Community Partner Award are several Enterprise Bank & Trust employees, front row from left, Scott Aragon, Deisy Oaxaca, Alisha Silva and Enrica Vigil, and back row, Nadine Martinez, Alicia Abeyta, Eve Longo, and Rado Georgiev in the lobby of the bank. Courtesy/Enterprise Bank
2025 Chamber Community Partner of the Year: Enterprise Bank & Trust
Enterprise Bank & Trust at 1200 Trinity Drive, led by Market President Liddie Martinez, is a significant sponsor of several community events and initiatives in Los Alamos in 2025, including lead sponsor for the ChamberFest Street Fair featuring local businesses, music, and a giant sand pile for children. Enterprise Bank & Trust is also heavily involved as the sponsor of Small Business Saturday and related promotions, which celebrate and support small businesses and their contribution to the community. Enterprise Bank & Trust also supports efforts to provide access to cultural and educational opportunities as a sponsor of Los Alamos Arts Council events, including the Kite Festival. In January, Enterprise Bank & Trust provided a $4,700 sponsorship to Self Help, Inc. to support its Emergency Basic Needs program, which provides emergency microgrants and support services to households in northern New Mexico. This May, Enterprise Bank & Trust also announced its commitment to the Oppenheimer House Restoration Project, partnering with the Los Alamos Historical Society to launch a major fundraising campaign that matches donations up to $500,000. Visit https://www.enterprisebank.com/locations/los-alamos
The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce congratulates all the winners and nominees of 2025, and thanks Triad National Security, LLC and Los Alamos National Laboratory for their sponsorship of the Chamber Business Awards.
About the Chamber:
The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce is a program of Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation (LACDC), a private, not-for-profit economic and community development organization serving the Los Alamos area since 1983. LACDC serves as the umbrella organization for the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, Los Alamos MainStreet & Creative District, Discover Los Alamos, Los Alamos Small Business Center, projectY cowork Los Alamos, and Los Alamos Research Park. For more information about Chamber membership, visit losalamoschamber.com or contact Chamber Director Sandy Jones at 505.661.4807 or sandy@losalamso.org.