R & R Market

Colo's Oldest — Estab 1857

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2025

1. R & R Market Marker

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Mrs. Sally Vigil, 3/31/1977:
On April 15, 1851, the Plaza de San Luis de la Culebra was established. Not only is this town Colorado's earliest permanent settlement, it represents a culture important to Colorado's history, the Spanish. The significance is more than just historical, for the basic way of life here remains Spanish. Over the years numerous immigrants have been assimilated, a process which continues today. The result is an intermingling of various cultures into what at first may seem a closed society, but whose members simply chose to perpetuate Spanish tradition, because of the way of life, the language and simple geographical placement.

The Plaza de San Luis de la Culebra is both a monument to the past and to a unique and viable culture of today. With few exceptions, the great majority of structures in the town are small scale one- and two-story brown cream or white buildings, the oldest of which have been in continuous use since they were built in the early 1860s. The result is a harmonious whole and the overall integrity of the town is intact. The buildings in San Luis are primarily of adobe construction, although some have been modernized with store fronts.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2025

2. R & R Market

Colorado's oldest continuously operated business is located on Main Street in Colorado's oldest continuously occupied town.

Contributing properties include the business now known as Romero's Store [in 1977 ], founded by Dario Gallegos in 1857. Arcadio Salazar, who had previously worked as a clerk, married Gallegos’ daughter in 1874 and soon after was made a full partner. In 1894, he assumed full ownership of the business, and his descendants continued to operate the store until the present day. In 1952, the store was recognized as being the oldest in the state still operated by the same family.

Excerpt:  R&R Market is the oldest continuously operated business in the State of Colorado, dating from its establishment in 1857 in the town of San Luis by Costilla County pioneer Dario Gallegos. The building was partially rebuilt after fires in 1895 and 1947 and is a contributing building to the San Luis de la Culebra National Historic District, listed under the themes of Hispano history, San Luis history, early trade and commerce, and politics.

The R&R Market is a classic example of a family-owned “legacy business” that is integral to the identity and economic viability of the community. The building housing R&R Market was originally constructed of adobe bricks and has subsequently been modified with a combination

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of concrete block, plaster, and stucco construction. The ground floor is the market, and the upstairs includes rental units which were once part of a hotel. The original mercantile business was opened by Dario Gallegos in May 1857, in a building 20 feet wide by 40 feet long, made of 25-inch adobe walls, with a foundation of rock with mud mortar. Today, the building is a beautiful two-story log and stucco building in the Territorial Adobe style common to many plaza buildings that date back hundreds of years. The building retains its dignity and beauty despite cracks in the stucco, red roof tiles that are crumbling, and water damage to soffits.

After a successful transition to new ownership and completion of $94,306 in rehabilitation work, the oldest continuously operating business in Colorado, formerly known as the R&R Market and now known as the San Luis People’s Market, has been saved from an uncertain fate. Long-time San Luis Valley resident, Dr. Devon Peña, who founded the Acequia Institute to promote water democracy, resilient agriculture, and environmental justice in the San Luis Valley, has taken on the challenge of operating the market, which has always been much more than just a grocery store.

Excerpt:  Established in 1851, San Luis is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Colorado. The district contains an important collection of buildings that includes the county courthouse, the convent and Church of Most Precious Blood, numerous residences, and the town’s commercial core.