2020 Restaurateur of the Year

Matt DiGregory

The Range Cafe – Albuquerque

Waiter to bartender to pastry chef to manager to owner and operator.  The road may look familiar to many successful restaurateurs.  But the view, and the company kept on the journey is one of a kind—just like this year’s restaurateur of the year, Matt DiGregory of the Range Café Restaurants.  Running a successful group of restaurants takes a lot of skills.  You’ve got to master so many different things, like accounting, inventory, regulations, and developing menus that will appeal to a wide variety of diners.  Matt has mastered these things, for sure, but perhaps more than anyone else, he has always believed that the heart of a restaurant is its people.  Prior to the pandemic, Matt’s leadership led the Range, Freight House, and Standard Diner to have strong teams of over 200 total employees whose extremely low turnover showed loyalty and dedication to the brand and its operator.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Matt DiGregory has led the charge in putting a face and a story to the challenges we as an industry are facing. Despite having to close 4 locations due to the pandemic, he has shared his story by participating in many press interviews, showing the public how much the losses that have come in 2020 have affected restaurateurs on a personal, heartfelt level.  There is no doubt that if it was within his power, each and every one of his employees, and everyone else’s, would be back in full force.  He wants our industry back, serving the public, and taking care of their families.

In a prior interview, Matt DiGregory was asked to describe himself in three words.  He said, “Honest, compassionate, and sincere”.  We couldn’t agree more.  Matt, thank you for being a part of our journey. NMRA is proud to honor our 2020 Restaurateur of the Year, Matt DiGregory of the Range Café Restaurants.

About The Range Cafe

The original Range Café was started in 1992 by Tom Fenton and Matt DiGregory in Bernalillo, New Mexico in a funky, 56 seat former gas station. In 1995 the original building was destroyed by a devastating fire. In 1996 the Range Café opened in its current location and has been serving up “ordinary food done extraordinarily well” ever since. The original location also features Home at The Range gift shop with lots of locally produced cool stuff you don’t really need. With a full bar and live free music in the Lizard Rodeo Lounge, the Range in Bernalillo is a great destination spot.

Now with four locations in Albuquerque, the Range Café continues to be a locally owned favorite known for its quirky atmosphere, great food, friendly service and growing support for the local arts community.

Locally owned, family friendly, great service, quality food! You’ll find them all here at the Range Café.

New Mexico Restaurants NOW! Podcast ep04 – Matt DiGregory, The Range Cafe

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