News Release

Contact:    Joanie Griffin (505) 261-4444, jgriffin@griffinassoc.com

Downtown Business Expand Thanks To Southwest Capital Bank.

ALBUQUERQUE – May 5, 2015 - You’ll notice a lot of green sprouting all over the 9,000 square-foot historic building at the corner of Gold and Broadway. Originally built in the 1920s as a Route 66 tire store, it was expanded in 1941 to be the 10-classroom Danfelser School of Music, where the Danfelser family also lived. Savvy entrepreneur Keith West rescued the vacant building almost three years ago and turned it into their skincare company. They restored water, gas and electric in the building with a huge breath of life into the Central and Broadway corridor.
“We love the building and we can’t imagine running our skincare company anyplace else,” says Keith West, “It just feels like home.”
It will be even more like home once the renovation is complete with an updated kitchen, new roof, solar panels, green roofs to grow herbs and a rainwater catchment system.
The pair used crowd funding from their spa clients to raise over $350,000 for the first phase of the project back in 2012 with the promise to pay back those investors in five years. Through a refinance with Southwest Capital Bank on Central Avenue, they paid back the investment two years early and secured financing to complete the project.
“My Sacred Fig and Urban Fresh Cosmetics are the perfect clients for Southwest Capital Bank,” said Lonnie Talbert, the bank’s Chief Operating Officer. “We are a business bank – based on the relationships we have with businesses in the Albuquerque Metro area. We are thrilled to provide the funding to help this entrepreneurial duo expand.”
In addition to their private label skincare manufacturing company Wild West Skincare (www.WildWestSkincare.com) he recently launched Urban Fresh Cosmetics (www.UrbanFreshCosmetics.com) and their new 501(c)(3) Urban Fresh Academy is in the works.
The Urban Fresh Academy is dedicated to educating and raising awareness about the advantages, impacts and costs of renewable energy, environmental conservation and sustainable urban farming in the desert southwest.
“We formulate organic private label skincare that's handmade fresh to order. We only use the freshest organic, natural and wild crafted ingredients, so why not grow those? We are the only skincare manufacturer that's a registered Urban Farm as a part of the Urban Farming Global Food Chain!” said Keith West.
The building, and historic photos from the 1941 construction, will be featured on the Huning Highland Historic District Neighborhood Association 2015 Mother’s Day Historic House Tour on Sunday, May 10, from 11:00 to 3:00. All visiting Moms will get a free gift from Urban Fresh Cosmetics. Tickets are available on the day of the event at the TACA Preservation Station at 601 Coal SE. Cost is $15 per person. For more information visit: http://hhhda.squarespace.com/welcome/

For more information contact Keith West at keith@WildWestSkincare.com or 505-514-1800 and visit www.WildWestSkincare.com

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