About – El Merendero

A Family Tradition of Flavor

(Posa's) tamales have been satisfying New Mexicans in Santa Fe since 1955. We are a family owned and operated business deeply rooted in the traditional flavors of Northern New Mexico. The tamales we produce continue to be the original recipe that Aurora Lujan brought to Santa Fe, NM in 1955. Her red chile pork tamales are still the main staple of the tamale factory.

Aurora's oldest daughter Carmen married World Champion Luchador in 1962. Together they purchased the rights to Aurora's tamales and established El Merendero (Posa's), roughly meaning "the snack place by Posa's."

(Posa's) quickly became the place where the locals eat. Today we remain an important part of the tradition and culture of Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico.

Timeline

1951

Aurora leaves Monterrey, Mexico, and starts a new life in Santa Fe, NM with her daughters Carmen, Rosario and her Husband Jose Lujan.
1955

Aurora and Jose opened the doors to El Merendero Cafe on Galisteo Street. The small
cafe quickly became known for its authentic flavors and the warmth of its owners.
1978

Aurora’s daughter, Carmen, along with her husband, Antonio, recognized the potential in the family recipe. In 1978, they purchased the rights to the original tamale recipe and continued the family tradition on Santa Fe Avenue. The new business from then on is known as El Merendero (Posa’s).
1979

The demand for their tamales grew, leading to the opening of their first tamale production
factory at 1248 Siler Road in 1979.
1993

In 1993, Jeffrey, Carmen and Antonio’s oldest son, opened a new branch of the business
on Alameda Street, where they introduced new menu items alongside their famous tamales.
Handheld burritos and the breakfast burrito are a big hit with people on the go for lunch.
1994

The following year, Carmen and Antonio expanded their business further, opening another location on Cerrillos Road.
1997

Jeffrey opens another location at 3538 Zafarano Dr in a new strip mall in town, next to the
Hollywood Video and Albertson’s.
2001

The (Posa’s) location on Alameda moves to a larger space in the Solana Shopping Center
and is open as a full-service restaurant for two years.
2003

In 2003, the main production of tamales was moved to a new larger facility at 1514 Rodeo Road in addition to a counter service dining area. The Siler Rd location was closed. Carmen and Antonio begin to enjoy a more retired life stepping away from daily operations and allowing Jeffrey and Johanna to manage the business.
2006

(Posa’s) opens two convenient store locations, (Posa’s) Express, in Española, NM. The community is an avid supporter of the Express stores until 2011, when the owners of the buildings decided to sell.
2012

The Posa Family sells the Zafarano location to Mark Vitagliano and he owns and operates
this space until he retires in 2024.
2020

Amid the global COVID-19 crisis, (Posa’s) navigates new ways of doing business and
during the 2020 Christmas we have record sales and continue to be an integral part of the Santa
Fe community.
2021

John Quiñones from GOOD MORNING AMERICA visits us to recognize our traditional food from Santa Fe in their Rise & Shine segment.
2022

The heartbreaking loss of Antonio and Carmen Posa. ANTONIO passed on January 11, 2022 from complications of dementia and a broken hip. CARMEN passed away from a broken heart one week after Antonio’s funeral on January 27,2022. It was Carmen’s birthday and she passed peacefully in her sleep to join her husband of almost 60 years.
Their children Jeffrey, Johanna, Antonio Jr, and Javier maintain ownership of the family
restaurant.
2022

(Posa’s) Express opens in a convenient store location at the Tewa Gas Station at Totavi
near Whiterock, NM.
Present

Today, Jeffrey and Johanna continue to oversee the daily operations, ensuring that the
tamale tradition remains strong and that Aurora’s legacy continues.

(Posa's) Today

12,000

Christmas tamales a day

85,000

burritos a year

48

employees

3,600

tamales per day

Our Team

Jeffrey M Posa

CEO, President

As President and CEO, Jeffrey has led the business alongside his sister Johanna since its inception. Dedicated to his family, community, and the restaurant, Jeffrey has been a cornerstone of its success. Beyond his business pursuit, he has been a dedicated community leader, coaching numerous youth football and wrestling teams in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

Johanna Posa Pacheco

CFO

Johanna has been the CFO of the business since the beginning, overseeing daily operations alongside her brother Jeffrey. Prior to her financial career, Johanna was passionate about travel working as a travel agent and prior to 9/11 she was an international flight attendant in New York City. A lifelong Santa Fe resident, she is deeply involved in the community, serving as an active member of the Catholic Church and a dedicated supporter of her sons’ endeavors.

Stephen Pacheco

IT Director

Stephen Pacheco, our IT Director, has been instrumental in developing and maintaining our company’s digital presence. With a lifetime connection to the Posa family, he joined the company full-time in 2020 after retiring from the State.

Havana Posa Maisano

Director of Marketing & Communication

As the Marketing and Communications Director, Havana has been instrumental in sharing the story of our family’s tamale legacy. With a lifetime of immersion in the business and an increased focus on marketing since 2019, she has been dedicated to connecting with our community and expanding our reach. In addition to (Posa’s) Havana works in general building and public health.