What Is the Acoma Curio Shop?
This is the shell of Abdoo Fidel’s mercantile and curio shop on Route 66!
What Makes It Historical?
Abdoo Fidel moved to New Mexico in 1913 after escaping religious persecution in his native Lebanon! After staying awhile with another immigrant from Lebanon, Narciso Francis, Sr., Mr. Fidel opened up a mercantile in what was then called Ballejos! The shop was truly unique, build from adobe like the surrounding area, but with a false front like you’d expect from Gold Rush mercantiles!
As Route 66 developed, many entrepreneurs were itching for tourist dollars, especially in the Native art trade! While Mr. Fidel didn’t have as much experience, by 1937, he’d turned his mercantile into the only exclusive wholesale shop for Acoma Pueblo’s artists! This was unique because most other shops just sold whatever art they could get from whatever tribes would sell it to them, but the Acoma Curio Shop focused on local authenticity and featured works by such artists as Lucy Lewis and Mary Chino!
The Acoma Curio Shop only stayed open for four years, because the gas rationing of World War II took a big bite out of Route 66 tourism! Mr. Fidel later sold his property to the Standard Oil Company to be a service station, and today, after many more owners, it is more of a monument to the days of roadside curio shops on Route 66!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Cibola County Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
1090 State Rd 124
San Fidel, NM 87049
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!
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