Carrying on a tradition
The Winfields: Indian trading is in the blood of area family

The Winfield Trading Post near Vanderwagen has moved to a new location on the east side NM 602 across from the old store. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Cable Hoover

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
Ernie Bulow
For the Independent

VANDERWAGEN — Jan. 12 was the official opening of the new Winfield Trading Post south of Gallup, but it will be weeks before all the finishing touches are completed.

Robert and Michelle Winfield have conducted business out of a small shop just north of the Zuni reservation line since they bought the place in 1972. The family thought it would be a good place to sell turquoise from their Lone Mountain mine near Tonopah, Nev.

Most of their trade has been with the artists of Zuni, and they have dealt with pretty much all the craftspeople of the pueblo. There aren’t many Zunis who don’t create some kind of art. Though the Winfields sold the Lone Mountain mine years ago, Robert stockpiled a good supply of the best stone. His retirement, he says, will be occupied creating a “Lone Mountain Collection” of one-of-a-kind collector pieces.

Sons Justin and Jason both attended high school in Gallup and then college at Northern Arizona University where Justin majored in business while Jason studied music. They were both in the choir where Justin met Rebecca, an art major. Justin and Rebecca joined the trading business while Jason studied music. While still in high school Jason had given trader Dominic Biava a tape of him singing country western music. It was playing in the store one day when Eddie Raven stopped by.

That chance encounter let to a song collaboration between Eddie and Jason, and cemented his interest in music. He was as surprised as anyone when his singing led him to the rarefied world of opera. In his off-time he joins the family, working in the trading post to pick up extra money.

Now Justin and his wife Rebecca have built a showplace of a store just across the highway. The new trading post covers 6,000 square feet with 12- and 14-foot ceilings.

Most of the building, including iron-shuttered windows, is a giant bank-style vault, with smaller safes inside. The pawn area is 1,000 square feet in itself. The whole building was done with attention to detail.

A huge retail area with high, sunny ceilings and more than a hundred feet of custom made display cases greet the visitor. A soaring stone fireplace separates the showcases from the buying counter. There was no retail area in the old store, and Justin is expanding into items his father never had space for, like baskets and rugs. He says he only bought his first rug in 2001 but he’s plenty knowledgeable today and many of weavings he has are award winners.

Besides his rugs, Justin has put together an amazing collection of rare baskets, including several museum quality Apache ollas. Asked whether the baskets were for display or sale he replied, “You can’t afford to fall in love with anything in this business. Everything has to be for sale.” Justin and Rebecca will also expand their selection of pottery and Kachina dolls in the new space.

Though the Winfield family has kept pretty low key for nearly 40 years, they hope the new retail store will become a destination for Gallup residents as well as their regular customers, who currently come from all over America, Europe and Asia.