The venerable Real Burger eatery, which closed in November 2010, has reopened its doors in a small space at 26411/2 Cerrillos Road, at the corner with Maez Road, behind the State Farm Insurance office.

The new site is where the Thrifty Nickel used to be located.

John Chavez, who owns and operates the restaurant with his wife, Trish, said he had to do some "extensive remodeling" in the building Real Burger has leased.

The restaurant is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and will continue to cater special occasions seven days a week. The Chavezes said they have added some new items to the menu.

Real Burger first opened in 1974 in a space on Don Gaspar Avenue on the edge of downtown, and then in 1994 moved to a restaurant space of the Park Inn on Cerrillos Road known as the Moon Gazerz Restaurant.

Next came a move to the Old Pecos Trail Inn that formerly had been occupied by Peppers and Red Skye Grill at 2239 Old Pecos Trail.

Real Burger can be reached at 699-5392 or 474-7325.


Opening Monday was Swiss Bakery Pastries and Bistro, owned by Philippe Muller, who years ago worked as a patisserie chef at Santa Fe's popular Swiss Palace Bakery and Restaurant.

The Swiss Palace closed in the mid-90s.

Muller also worked at Las Campanas and at Ernie's restaurant in Santa Fe and at his father's restaurant in Lausanne, Switzerland.

His new Santa Fe restaurant is at 40l S. Guadalupe St., in a space formerly occupied by Corazón, which closed.

Muller's breakfast menu features croissants, omelettes, crepes and more, while lunch offers soups, pizza, croque monsieur, salads and sandwiches. There's also a wide variety of tortes, cakes and pies.

Wine and beer are on the way.

Muller's wife, Ruth, and children Brian and Camille are also involved in the enterprise.

"I always wanted to work in a family business," Philippe Muller said.

For more information, call 988-1111.


Two Santa Fe jewelers have pooled their talents and will work together.

Master goldsmith Marc Howard, owner of Marc Howard Exceptional Fine Jewelry in the Railyard District, will work with beaded jewelry designer Madeleine Durham, formerly the owner of Beauty and the Beads.

"We've been working with Madeleine for several months for our stringing repairs and found that she had quite an inventory left after she closed her store," Howard said. "Her necklaces are colorful and fun and they are very well made — which is especially important to us. We also like that we are able to offer them at very attractive, accessible prices."

Custom designs for bead-stringing are also possible.

"We really appreciate working with Madeleine," Howard added. "Her stringing repairs are swift and well done, and she's such a nice person to work with. She's been a wonderful addition to our business."


The Santa Fe Professional Business Women's Young Professional Program is seeking candidates through Feb. 3.

Young professional women or men may be self-nominated or nominated by an organization, employer or colleague. Nominees will also be eligible to attend a special professional development program.

To be eligible, candidates must be between 25 and 35; have been employed in business or the professions with at least one year complete year of full-time work experience in her/his career area; be outstanding in scholastic work and community service; be living, working, training or continuing education in Santa Fe County; and support the mission of SFPBW.

The individual selected will represent SFPBW at a state conference in Santa Fe in April.

For more information, contact SFPBW chairwoman Jennifer Miranda at 428-1266 or email
jennifer.miranda@sfcc.edu.