SALA received the 2026 ‘Small Service Business of the Year’ and a nomination for Family-Friendly Business of the Year from the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy/SALA
SALA News:
SALA Los Alamos Event Center owner Allan Saenz welcomed community members to a special presentation on Wednesday evening at SALA, where he shared several important announcements celebrating SALA’s growth, team, and continued service to the Los Alamos community.
Saenz announced that SALA was recognized by the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce as the 2026 “Small Service Business of the Year”. SALA was also nominated for Family-Friendly Business of the Year, further highlighting the role the event center has played in creating a welcoming space for families, businesses, organizations, and the broader community.
“We are truly thankful and honored,” Saenz said. “This recognition is not just about SALA as a business. It is about the team behind SALA, the people who work hard every day to make this place welcoming, active, and useful for the community.”
As part of the evening, Saenz gave special recognition to Magaly Veleta, who has been part of SALA since the early stages of the project and has played a critical role in helping build, manage, and support the event center’s operations.
“Magaly has been behind so much of what makes SALA work,” Saenz said. “She has helped us organize, manage, track information, support events, and keep things moving forward. This award is also a reflection of her work and dedication.”
Valeta will soon be leaving New Mexico, and Saenz expressed how much she will be missed by the SALA team and the local community. Fortunately, she will continue working with SALA remotely and will remain an important part of the organization.
“We are very sad to see her leave New Mexico, but we are grateful that she will continue to be part of the team,” Saenz said. “She does so much behind the scenes, and we are thankful that SALA will continue to benefit from her work and commitment.”
Saenz also announced another major milestone for SALA: the beginning of beer and wine service at the event center.
This new offering was made possible in part by recent efforts in New Mexico to create legislation allowing independent theaters to serve beer and wine. SALA is now able to offer guests a selection of beer and wine while they attend movies, events, and community gatherings.
“This is something we are excited to celebrate,” Saenz said. “Independent theaters need more ways to survive and create a better experience for guests. Being able to offer beer and wine gives SALA another way to serve the community while helping support the future of the event center.”
SALA Event Center continues to evolve as a community gathering place, offering movies, private events, meetings, festivals, VR experiences, birthday parties, nonprofit events, and cultural programming.
Saenz said the recent recognition, the continued contributions of SALA’s team, and the addition of beer and wine service are all signs of the project’s ongoing growth.
“SALA exists because of the people who believe in it,” Saenz said. “Our team, our members, our sponsors, our customers, and our community have all helped make this possible. We are thankful for the recognition, thankful for Magaly, and excited for what is next.”
About SALA Los Alamos Event Center
SALA Event Center is a locally owned community event center in Los Alamos, New Mexico, located in the former movie theater at 2551 Central Ave. SALA offers movies, private rentals, birthday parties, meetings, festivals, VR experiences, community events, and cultural programming. The mission of SALA is to provide a welcoming space where the Los Alamos community can gather, connect, and create lasting memories.
Magaly Veleta, receiving special recognition from Allan Saenz on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Courtesy/SALA
First sip of SALA Beer & Wine Service during the launch of LosAlamos.com. Courtesy/SALA