This June, Ortega’s Appliance Service proudly celebrated an incredible milestone—our 50th anniversary in business serving the Albuquerque community and beyond. What began in the heart of New Mexico during an economically challenging time has grown into the region’s most trusted name in appliance repair. As we mark our golden anniversary, we’re taking a moment to look back on where we started, honor those who brought us here, and celebrate the journey that made us Albuquerque’s #1 appliance repair company.
From Humble Beginnings to a Household Name
The seeds of Ortega’s Appliance Service were planted even before 1975. In the photo above, Manny Ortega proudly holds a sign that dates back to the early days of appliance service by his father, Manuel Ortega Sr., in Gallup, NM—a treasured gift from his sister and nieces during our luncheon. It represents more than just history; it symbolizes a legacy of hard work, integrity, and commitment.
In the summer of 1975, when economic hardship gripped the country, Manuel Ortega Sr. and Fermin Garcia lost their jobs at Cosgroves Television and Appliance. Rather than give up, they created their own path forward, founding G-O TV and Appliance—named for “Garcia and Ortega.” Their dream wasn’t to build an empire, but to provide for their families. And that’s exactly what they did.
With the entire Ortega and Garcia families pitching in—including the children—G-O Appliance laid the foundation for what would eventually become Ortega’s Appliance Service. When Fermin retired and later passed away in 2013, and Manuel retired in 2006 (he recently turned 90!), Manny Ortega Jr. took over operations in 1993 and fully merged G-O Appliance into Ortega’s Appliance Service in 1998.
A Legacy of Growth, Grit, and Gratitude
Under Manny’s leadership, Ortega’s Appliance Service has expanded both in size and in reputation. Guided by his father’s philosophy—“Never ask an employee to do something you are not willing to do yourself”—Manny built a team culture rooted in respect, teamwork, and service.
We’ve been honored to receive accolades that reflect our values and commitment:
- 🏆 2012 NM Ethics in Business Award
- 🏆 2015 SBA Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
In 2016, Ortega’s Appliance Service grew again with the acquisition of Evan’s Appliance, another Albuquerque-based service provider known for excellence since—fittingly—1975. With aligned values and strong customer focus, the integration helped reinforce our reputation as the trusted appliance repair company of New Mexico.
A Celebration 50 Years in the Making
To commemorate this incredible milestone, we hosted a heartfelt luncheon for our team—our extended family. Every laugh, bite, and story shared reminded us of what has always mattered most: our people and our community.
We surprised Manny with a custom throwback sign from Ortega’s early Gallup days and handed out special 50th anniversary jars of Cervantes salsa adorned with our logo—a flavorful tribute to our New Mexico roots!
The walls said it all:
🎉 “Awesome Since 1975.”
Thank You, Teammates and Customers
We couldn’t have done it without our exceptional employees, who uphold our service standards every single day, and without our loyal customers, who’ve trusted us with their homes and appliances for five decades.
Here’s to the memories we’ve made, the lives we’ve touched, and the countless dishwashers, washers, ovens, and refrigerators we’ve helped along the way!
From all of us at Ortega’s Appliance Service:
Thank you for 50 incredible years.
We look forward to many more to come.
