New Mexico
Heart of New Mexico: Empire Board Games celebrates a decade of business
He always wanted to build a place to build community.
“I love bringing people in,” said Rory Veronda, owner of Empire Board Game Library. “I also wanted to do a business that didn’t deal in alcohol or was a restaurant.”
Veronda has experience in both. He formerly owned and operated a nightclub.
“That was my jam in those years,” he said.
Now the 55-year-old is happy to have turned back to his interests that pre-dated the nightlife party scene.
“I definitely played Dungeons and Dragons to start out with, during the ‘Satanic Panic’ phase of that game,” said Veronda. “It was just a bunch of nerdy kids playing games.”
This year, Empire Board Game Library is celebrating 10 years in business. They’ve accomplished a decade in business by catering to a wide variety of complex board-game-seekers, to UNM students, date-nights, and a community of gamers that keep coming back. However, keeping his business open for the last decade has not been easy.
“The ART project was worse than the pandemic, in many ways,” said Veronda. “In the pandemic, there was a lot of grant money being passed around.”
The traits needed to run a business are similar to the traits his manager, Tres Williams, sees in a successful board game player.
“Patience, an analytical mind,” said Williams. “Keeping cool under pressure.”
Williams puts on events like the one promoting the 10-year anniversary with a three-day convention. He has memorized the rules to over 100 board games and said the winners are often, “Able to quickly recognize what you need to do. Seeing what goal, you’re trying to go for, and how to get there.”
Not so different from running a business in Nob Hill.
“I just don’t see Empire going anywhere,” said Veronda on his plans.
The corner store is now a cornerstone in a part of town that often seems different businesses come and go.
“Whether I’m here, or not, I think Empire will survive,” said Veronda.
SALT LAKE CITY — A missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Utah has passed away in his sleep unexpectedly Saturday in New Mexico, according to a news release from The Church.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died from a medical cause that has not been determined, Church spokesman Sam Penrod said in a statement.
According to The Church, Martin had been serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission since May 2024. He was from Salem, Utah.
Elder Caleb Gene Martin, 21, died in his sleep on Jan. 3 from a medical cause that has yet to be determined. He was serving in the New Mexico Farmington Mission. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fellow missionaries. We pray they will find comfort and strength through their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and feel the Savior’s love as they honor Elder Martin’s life and devoted missionary service,” the statement said.
According to the release, an autopsy is planned.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Southeastern New Mexico will see some snow while other places will generally see cooler, more winter-like temperatures. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some notable cities in New Mexico could see multiple inches of snow, along with possible wind and cooler temperatures Sunday into Monday.
There is going to be snow across the southeast. A winter storm advisory is in effect all throughout areas like Ruidoso and out toward the Texas state line. A winter storm warning for Carlsbad and even a blizzard warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. These advisories and warnings indicate it’s going to continue until Monday at 6 p.m.
How much snow might there be? Ruidoso could see a few inches, along with other higher-elevation areas. Carlsbad might even see as much as two inches and Roswell has a very good chance of snow.
Wind gusts ranged from 23 mph for Hobbs and Clovis, 25 in Santa Rosa and similar readings in other places. Temperatures could hit sub-freezing temperatures in places like Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Meanwhile, Gallup and Grants could get into the single-digits. Plus, places like Albuquerque and Santa Fe will be in the 20s but the big “winner” is Alamosa, Colorado, with 2 degrees.
Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.
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