Santo Domingo Trading Post

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Our Story

Santo Domingo Indian Trading Post is a 3rd Generation Native American owned Jewelry shop located in Old Town of Albuquerque, NM. Our Family is from Kewa (aka Santo Domingo Pueblo) reservation located north of Albuquerque. Our shop was started in 1994, the original Owner was Manuelita “Lita” Wagner-Calabaza, she started off as a street vendor selling and making her own jewelry here in the heart of Old Town. In 1994, the city of Albuquerque shut down the ability for vendors to sell their jewelry on the street of the main plaza in Old Town. Lita decided this was a good opportunity to open her own business. A man named Joe Doty who owned a building in Old Town, gave Lita the opportunity to rent his building and open up the First and only Native American Women operated Jewelry shop.

The old town vendor shut down only lasted a year but Lita decided to continue with her shop along with selling her jewelry as a street vendor. Lita wanted to help her family who mainly lived on the reservation, she would hire close family and friends to help work in the shop. Evaristo Moquino, her brother, was one of her first salesperson along with her brother Ray Calabaza, his wife Rose Calabaza and close family friend Mary Rosetta. These four would be the original shopkeepers and Jewelry makers until the late 90’s. Lita’s children Alois, Christa and Anthony grew up making jewelry alongside their mother and worked in the shop as well. Lita as a single mother, continued to work as a jewelry maker, street vendor and manage her shop.

In the early 2000’s, she had the opportunity to own the building in which she rented, from her long time friend Joe Doty. She was now the proud only Native American Women property Owner and Operator of her own business. She continued to work hard at her jewelry making and managing her business until her death in 2009. Throughout the years, she made sure she helped her native people by giving back to her community along with supporting and representing the 19 pueblo native artists in her store. Since 2009, Christa and Alois (Alois a silversmith and street vendor in Old Town) have kept her memory and her hardwork alive by keeping the store open. The tradition continues by supporting local native artists with their one of a kind pieces. We will always be family owned and operated. When you walk into the store today, you will be greeted by Lita’s youngest sister Mary Calabaza and long time friend Ruby “Blue” Cruz along with her granddaughter Rochelle (who has grown up making jewelry and learning the business from her grandmother) You might even run into our youngest sales persons, her great grandchildren, who are also growing up learning the trade and traditions the shop has been giving for over 30 years.