09/13/2023
When I came to Las Vegas to attend NMHU in 1992, I remember the first Saturday after I got to town I decided to leave campus and take a walk around. I started out towards Bridge Street. I was standing on the Bridge, leaning over and observing the Gallenas River for the first time. That's when I saw Estella's. I saw that beautiful neon sign, and I headed straight to it.
When I entered the restaurant there she was, Estella, a crutch under one arm and two platters of food in the other. She gave me a big smile, "Sit over here mi jita! I'll be right back!" I sat down and glanced over the menu as she came back to my table, and ordered the combination plate. "OH no mi jita," she said, as she patted my shoulder, "That's to hot for you! I will make you a nice taco!" I had no say in the matter, so that's when Estellas for Tacos on Saturdays became one of my rituals. She would always stop by my table and smile, pat my shoulder, talk to me, and always ask how school was going.
As the years passed we sadly lost a generation of community founders in Las Vegas. Many places of legacy passed on, and when that happened, the dreams of the founders were lost with it. Estella's, like many other historic buildings in our community fell into disuse and finally, became empty.
An empty building can invoke many things. Almost like a blank canvass to an artist, or the blank page in front of a writer, it can be too intimidating to even begin to envision its use. Without vision, the emptiness, the need to fill it, and the potential of re-creation can become invisible to its observers who pass by it everyday.
It's easier to let heritage pass away rather than having the courage to take up the mantle of responsibility to rebirth and curate the heritage of a beloved local landmark. It's rare to find people who care enough to respect this kind of preservation of heritage.
This path is seldom taken for it is fraught with derision, and traversing it can come at great personal loss. Many would plow over it, cast it aside and replant something without regard, without respect, and without love. That's the easy way, and if
we continue to placate this pattern, then one day the heritage and heart of our community will finally cease to be. It will be replaced oh so easily with the cheap and soulless corporate boxes that contribute nothing back to the city that houses them.
A building is not great in and of itself, it is the people inside. Estella's was always so much more than a building, and so was Stella's Cafe. They were both places I walked into and felt like I was home. They were both sanctuaries. They were both a place to gather. They were both places to see friends, laugh, and be inspired and loved. They were both places I forged friendships in, shared my dreams, and of course, enjoined amazing food!
So this is goodbye, and good luck to Stella's Cafe. The heart of this beautiful building is still beating strong, although today, it feels a little broken.
