Soul food and conversations: Rep. Melanie Stansbury visits Nexus Brewery

Gino Gutierrez, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·1 min read
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Feb. 22—By Gino Gutierrez

Before he opened Nexus Brewery in Albuquerque more than a decade ago, Ken Carson had the goal of making sure his business ran just as well as anyone else's.

He had the added motivation of being a Black small-business owner trying to carve out his own path in the restaurant-brewery business.

"Black folks can do just as well as anyone else," Carson said.

On Thursday afternoon, in honor of Black History Month, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., and her team had lunch at Nexus Brewery with Carson, his daughter, Nexus Chief Operating Officer Reina Carson, and Nexus Event Coordinator Tori Brigance to discuss Carson's journey from opening Nexus to where it is today.

The group discussed this and Nexus Brewery's goals and involvement in the community over a hot meal of Nexus' trademark mix of Southern soul food and New Mexican cuisine.

"We need to be celebrating and supporting our Black-owned businesses every month, year around," Stansbury said.