Ranch Kitchen considers closing

By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — Another of Gallup's long-time restaurants is looking at closing.

John Marbury, owner of the Ranch Kitchen, said Sunday that he is hoping to keep the restaurant open past this winter but he's not optimistic.

Several weeks ago, because of declining customers, the restaurant, for the first time in its existence, stopped serving breakfast and lunch. It's now open only from 5-9 p.m. nightly.

This announcement comes just a couple weeks after another long-time restaurant in this area Kristy's closed down. In that case, its owner, Barbara Stanley, said she was closing it because of her retirement and is hoping that someone takes over the lease.

A third restaurant, Pal Joey's, is in the process of changing owners, probably in the next couple of months.

The Ranch Kitchen, located on West Historical Highway 66 near the Holiday Inn and the Best Western Inn is facing two problems, said Marbury - a decrease in tourist business and its location.

Business, he said, has been going down steadily each of the past four years. The business in 2004 was the worst he has ever seen it.

Marbury, because of the restaurant's location, has depended heavily on tourism since moving to that location some 23 years ago. Before that it was located where El Dorado is now located.

"I've been trying to get more locals to eat here for years but people say it's too far away," he said. The restaurant is located about four miles from downtown Gallup.

"People's habits don't change," he said, adding that people who live in Gallup are used to eating either ion the eastern or central portions of town.

The restaurant has gained fame locally for its breakfasts and its barbecues during the summer.

Yes, said Marbury, people commented on its breakfast selections but now with no breakfast or lunches being served, the restaurant is operating only with its dinner menu.

As for the barbecues, Marbury said that will continue this summer if the restaurant is still open.

He said that the customer base at the restaurant has been affected by a number of other factors, including the opening of other new restaurants like Applebee's and the fact that many of the hotels on the western side of town have begun serving hot breakfasts to attract more customers.

Another factor has been the increased costs to run the restaurant.

"Everything continues to go up except our prices," he said

While food costs, utility bills and so on have gone up, Marbury said he has had to keep his prices about the same in order to remain competitive with the other restaurants in town.