Cowboys and Indians Santa Fe, owned by Andreea and Freddy Bruckner, has opened in a space on West San Francisco Street previously occupied by Simply Santa Fe.

Simply Santa Fe, owned by Armand Ortega, closed in January after a run of 22 years.

Cowboys and Indians Santa Fe features apparel, jewelry, cowboy boots, furniture, paintings and other items.

"We're very diverse," Andreea Bruckner said, adding that she and her colleagues have created a store that specializes in "cowgirl chic."

Bruckner searched Santa Fe for a good site and quickly decided that the old Simply Santa Fe location downtown was just what she wanted. "It's the most beautiful store in Santa Fe," she said.

Bruckner has had extensive retail experience in Aspen and Boston and is confident the new shop will succeed.

"So long as your selections are good, you will always have customers," she said.

Seven people work at Cowboys and Indians, one of whom, Louella Romero, the wife of Native American artist Danny Romero, worked at Simply Santa Fe.

Cowboys and Indians Santa Fe is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. The store expects to have extended hours in summer.

For more information, call 982-8280.


Stephen Klunder, the businessman who in 2007 bought Hogle's Theatrical Supplies, says former owner Dick Hogle made several inaccurate observations in an item that was published in the March 29 edition of this column.

Klunder takes issue with claims made by Hogle that the business before it was purchased by Klunder "was running great" and that the business eventually became "a mess" after Hogle sold it.

"It made it sound we were deeply at fault" for the demise of the business, Klunder said.

Klunder acknowledged that the business did file for bankruptcy, but "it wasn't because of how we ran the company," he said.

"The business failed because of the economy. People weren't making large purchases," Klunder said. On top of that, "we weren't able to get loans. We went to multiple banks in town, and no one gave us a loan."

Klunder added: "We did everything we could to get the company going again. I wish we could have revived the company."

Hogle's Theatrical Supplies "was going to go out of business anyway, even if we had not purchased it," Klunder said. "The fact is there was too much debt for it to keep going. There was no feasible solution."

When asked about Klunder's statements, Hogle said he stands by his previous comments.