The alien theme at San Miguel Pottery Land started when Joe learned more about the Lonnie Zamora UFO sighting that is in Socorro. He knew that tourists traveled through the area because they were interested in the story, so he thought adding aliens to the pottery store might catch their attention. His idea was that if people driving by saw aliens instead of only pottery, they might stop, look around, and take home a souvenir. According to Joe, tourists “go wild for the aliens”, and they eventually became a big part of what made the store stand out.
Tourists seem to really enjoy the atmosphere at San Miguel Pottery Land. Families often stop to take pictures with the large and unusual displays around the store. At one point, a huge gorilla was one of the things that attracted people, along with the unique oversized pottery pieces. Now, visitors also love the aliens, from the larger displays to the smaller alien souvenirs with different features. People often ask Joe for more than just something to shop for; it gives them something interesting to see, talk about, and remember.
I think the alien theme changed the business by giving it something that stands out in an unexpected place. Socorro is a small town, but the history behind the UFO sighting gives the area a unique story of its own. San Miguel Pottery Land has found a fun way to connect that history with the business, while still keeping the pottery and New Mexico character that it started with. I think that the two combining is what keeps people looking forward to stopping by when they travel through Socorro.
