This article was originally published in The Historic Mesilla Valley Magazine.
As Las Cruces natives who have spent a majority of their lives in Mesilla, Amanda Davies and her mother, Irma Chavez-May, were eager to start a business focused on fresh foods and local culture. Madelyn’s, named after Amanda’s two-year-old daughter, opened their doors last October, inviting customers to enjoy their delicious menu and newly-renovated space. In the six months they’ve been in business, the mother-daughter duo, who co-own Madelyn’s alongside their husbands, has used their strengths to lay the groundwork for a staple restaurant in the community. Located at 2488 Calle De Guadalupe, right across from the Fountain Theater, Irma said they were excited to open in this space because it sits right near the plaza.
“We pretty much knew this was going to be very successful, and it has been,” she said. “It’s just getting busier and busier and busier, so we’re just hoping it’s just [going] to continue to grow and be one of the places that everyone wants to come to when they come to Mesilla … we’re hoping someday, it’ll be [like] everyone wants to come to Madelyn’s.”
Irma shared that her grandfather, Isaac Chavez, was born in Las Cruces in 1901 and became very involved in Mesilla and its history. A local business owner, farmer, and usher at the Basilica of San Albino for 40 years, he established roots in Mesilla that would last for generations. “I mean, we grew up here, so … it’s all nice to be back in this little area,” Irma said.
The family has a long-standing history in the local restaurant scene. In 1991, Irma opened The Country’s Best Yogurt (TCBY) in Las Cruces, and kept the location running for eight years. After Amanda was born, Irma opened another location on New Mexico State’s campus. Located in the Frenger Food Court near Zuhl Library and Domenici Hall, TCBY Coffee Haus was operated by their family for 24 years. Amanda and her brother started working at the Coffee Haus as kids, all the way through high school and college.
Amanda managed the shop during her time as an NMSU student until she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management. She mentioned that she’d always wanted to open her own coffee shop one day, while Irma always had another goal of opening a brewery. Together, they’d imagined owning a medley of these businesses, where their ideas could come together in a space that would be cherished by the community. When NMSU’s campus had to close early on in the pandemic, Irma made the decision to sell TCBY Coffee Haus and focus on real estate. But when an opportunity arose last spring, Irma and Amanda knew they had to take it and make their lifelong dreams a reality.
The Davies and Chavez-May families are all involved in real estate, and have been practicing in the Las Cruces area for many years. Last April, Irma got a listing for two units in Mesilla, and when the current tenants didn’t want to stay, she made the decision with Amanda to buy the property to start Madelyn’s. With just a few months to begin renovations and prepare for their grand opening in October, Amanda said that the quick transition – which was mostly unplanned – has overall been a great experience.
Irma noted that some of the key values they brought to Madelyn’s, much of which they’d established at TCBY, include building relationships with their customers and creating menu items people will love. “One of the things that we’ve always prided ourselves in is that we’re constantly concentrating on customer service,” Irma said. “Everything is about customer service … [and] best quality food; that’s what we did back then, and now we’re continuing that.” She elaborated on their recipes, stating they bake nearly everything from scratch – from pizza dough to ladyfingers for tiramisu.
Amanda’s passion for baking, which she learned from her mom, has led Madelyn’s to become well-known for their pastries. Amanda often spends early mornings at the restaurant baking their treats for the day, and said she wants to continue experimenting with fancier recipes while learning more about what customers like. Because of these values, Madelyn’s has become a gem in Mesilla – not only for its tasty and unique menu, but also for the environment it fosters for the local community. They host open mic night every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. and have live performances from local musicians every Friday through Sunday.
While Amanda and Irma have years of experience working together, they said their dynamic is a bit different as co-owners of Madelyn’s. Amanda mentioned her gratitude for her mom’s help in the transition. “I have my two-year-old, and then I have a three-year-old,” Amanda said. “I was a stay at home mom for the last three years, so this has been an adjustment – she kind of really offsets what I’m able to do.”
Irma shared her excitement for her grandkids to grow up in the business, and hopefully “repeat the cycle” by working at Madelyn’s when they get older – just as Amanda and her brother were able to do at TCBY. Amanda’s husband, Kent Davies, remarked on how meaningful the space has been for their kids and the family as a whole.
“It’s been really good for our family,” he said. “Our kids are here all the time. It’s been fun for them to kind of grow up here – you know, they’re only two and three, so even five months is a pretty big chunk of their life. But that’s been really nice, just to see them interacting with their grandparents here … Aside from just being a business, it’s been like a real second home for us.”
The lounge area at Madelyn’s serves beer, wine and spirits, and opened to the public about a month ago. The renovated room, which was worked on in stages, connects to the restaurant area through the kitchen, and is complete with a full bar, beautiful wood-finished tables, a bronze-tiled ceiling, and an extensive wine collection. Kent, who worked on remodeling both the lounge and the cafe areas, said it was important for the family to preserve some core details of the space, like the adobe walls. “We spruced it up, but we kept a lot of the historical features that made it really special,” he said. “It would be a disservice to the property if we were to just cover everything and make it brand new and not keep some of the historical elements to it.”
Kent elaborated on his remodeling experience, stating he has flipped several houses over the past few years with skills he learned from his mother, who renovates historical buildings in Silver City. While he said Amanda and his in-laws “took the lead” on the business side of things, Kent did major refurbishing in the space and came up with many ideas for the layout and decor.
He said they are already getting plenty of regulars at Madelyn’s, including many customers the family knew from TCBY, while also meeting new people everyday that are discovering their restaurant for the first time. He noted the importance of connecting with those in Mesilla and beyond. “We really want to just kind of grow in the community,” Kent said. “We’re very supportive of the other businesses around here, and they’ve been very supportive of us. So, we’d like to just continue that relationship.”
Kent said he admires how both Amanda and Irma value their relationships with patrons, always building connections and remembering important details about customers. He provided a lens on the pair’s qualities and values they bring into Madelyn’s – especially their caring nature and dedication to making sure people have the best experience. “They’re both extremely hardworking; and I know Amanda gets that from her mom,” he said. “They’re very focused … very practical, too … It’s really the perfect business for them. Everybody’s drawn to them when they’re here and they’re drawn to everybody else. I think they love just being here. Even when they’re not working, they’re here.”
With a quaint yet beautifully reimagined space, Madelyn’s is the perfect place to spend time. Whether in need of a new study spot, a cozy environment to visit with friends, an inviting patio to soak up the spring sun, or a space to relax while listening to local bands, there is something for everyone to love at this treasured family-owned business.
