From the Hearth: The Corn Family's Journey to The Stove and Spa Store
Owners Al and Beverlyn Corn, along with their family, remember their history and look to the future of their business.
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One of the first businesses to greet you on your way down the mountain is The Stove and Spa Store.
The Reader visited with Albert “Al” and Beverlyn Corn, founders of the Stove and Spa Store, and their family to learn more about their business and hear their story.
Craftsmanship around Cloudcroft
The Stove and Spa store started over four decades ago. The Corn family's connection to the region goes back even further, with a sheep ranch homesteaded in the 1930s near Timberon and on what is now the McGregor bombing range.
Virgil Albert Corn, Al’s grandfather, is part of this history, noted in archived tax records from 1932, where his patented land is listed. Al’s dad, Albert Lee Corn, was a skilled craftsman who built fireplaces and did outdoor stonework around Cloudcroft.
Corn built the exterior rock wall at the Crofting Inn in Cloudcroft, his first project, still standing today. Current Crofting Inn owner Gail McCoy said that Corn is credited with much of the “red rock work” around the village.
Al Corn recalls helping his father with stonework as a child, carrying rocks for projects like the Boy Scout building in Sacramento.
“One memory I have—I was probably seven when this happened-they we’re putting what is called a Wainscot rock like this around the Boy Scouts building in Sacramento. They were looking for a certain size rock. I brought one over and they bragged on me. I don't know… it probably didn't fit that good, but Dad used it. It made my day.”
The family also ran the El Monte restaurant in Cloudcroft, which once stood at the corner of the James Canyon Highway and Swallow Place, where the owner's grandmother, Bessie Jolly, was famous for her pies. “I was always on my best behavior when I got to visit Bessie at her restaurant,” Al remembers.
Al’s aunt and uncle raised him for six years after his parents tragically died in an automobile accident on Highway 54 when Al was just 8 years old. His grandmother, Bessie, raised Al in the years that followed until he left school. Al describes Bessie as a “firecracker” who loved fishing in the Peñasco River and at Elephant Butte. Bessie lived to be nearly 102.
Family Business
The Stove and Spa Store is truly a family-run business. For our interview, Al and his wife, Beverlyn, the founders of the business, were joined by daughter Tamara Davis, Account Manager, and daughter-in-law Karina Corn, Sales Manager. Their son and Field Manager Jake Corn was on the road. Many other employees, from certified chimney cleaners to sales associates, are also in the family.
We chatted in the breakroom, with Tamara chuckling over or nodding along with her parents’ stories, and showing obvious pride in the company they’ve built.
The establishment of The Stove and Spa Store in Alamogordo was a happenstance. The Corn family business started with logging when they first moved to the area, which led naturally into selling firewood.
According to Al, there wasn't a local hearth shop, so stove manufacturers and distributors approached the family to see if they were interested in selling stoves. Al initially doubted the market but agreed to display stoves on the floor, paying for them only if they sold on consignment. From there, the business grew into what it is today, eventually obtaining a contractor’s license and offering additional services.
Today, The Stove and Spa Store offers a curated selection of premium stoves and luxurious spas, including:
Hot tubs, hydrotherapy, and swim spas (Endless Pools)
Saunas (indoor and outdoor, infrared and traditional, 1-4 person capacity)
Stoves (wood-, gas-, and pellet-fueled, electric units)
They also provide exclusive services:
Thoughtfully tailored consultation and design
Expert, certified installations
Contracting services, including building decks, concrete pads, fireplaces, slight remodeling, and small room additions
Many of their products, including stoves and spas, are manufactured in the USA.
Their market extends throughout Otero County, including Ruidoso and Cloudcroft, parts of Lincoln and Doña Ana counties, West Texas, and El Paso—they have even served as far as Marfa, Texas.
Safety First
A key focus for The Stove and Spa Store is safety, particularly concerning heating installations.
"Our main goal is that our customers be safe when they have their fire burning in their home. When you buy insurance, the purpose for insurance is replacing the house, but there's nothing that would replace your life,” says Al Corn.
The family acknowledges that their stoves carry a higher pricetag than a DIY project, but for them, safety features, training, and experience are part of the package. The company includes fire screens, double-walled pipes, and high wind caps and adheres to all manufacturers’ instructions and codes to ensure safe installation.
The Corns emphasize how crucial regular chimney cleanings are in preventing chimney fires, and also shared these safety practices:
Proper Wood Storage: Wood should be dry (15-20% moisture content), not wet from sap or water. Stack it off the ground in a dry, partially covered area. Avoid stacking wood directly against the house.
Proper Ash Disposal: Hot coals can ignite materials; do not place ashes in paper bags on porches.
Annual Chimney Inspection and Cleaning: Yearly cleanings are a “bare minimum” for homes where stoves are regularly used, “possibly more often depending on wood quality” and usage. Creosote buildup is extremely flammable. The busy season for stoves and services typically runs from “September through January, but we recommend scheduling annual cleanings early, ideally in June, July, or August, for easier scheduling and to be prepared for cold snaps.”
Safety Features: They utilize features like fire screens and high wind caps (Vacu-Stack) to prevent issues like backdrafting.
Spa Days and a Special Event
For spas, the focus is on customer satisfaction, serviceability, and the health benefits of hydrotherapy, “which can help with arthritis, sleep, mobility, and stress.” The Corns subscribe to their spa use daily, noting that “20 minutes in a 104°F spa is equivalent to a 7-minute cold plunge for health benefits.” They also offer hot and cold plunge tubs.
While The Stove and Spa Store doesn’t have a medical license to process health insurance directly, customers can “pursue reimbursement if a medical professional recommends a spa,” according to Tamara.
Their next venture is offering saunas, which they’ll debut at an on-site promotion on May 17th with one-day-only specials, presentations, and food trucks on site.
Karina says it will be an all-around event with sales and rebates galore:
Kozy Heat: Up to $200 instant rebate
Mendota Heat: 10% off fireplaces or a free vent kit
Dimension One Hot Tubs: 0% APR for 48 months or up to $2,000 off
Hot Spring Hot Tubs: 0% APR for 60 months on select collections
Hearthstone: 10% off stoves, in-store specials
10% off installs
10 free bags of fir pellets with pellet stove purchase
Free setup on saunas
Visit their website for more information on The Stove and Spa Store. Follow their Facebook page for updates on special events and sales.
This article is brought to you exclusively by our sponsor, The Stove and Spa Store:
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I met Al in 1978(ish), he loaned my new Wife (his Cousin) and I a small travel trailer for our 'honeymoon'. We broke the frame and he didn't get mad or anything. Al's a great guy and one of the friendliest people I've known.
Sounds like a lovely family. One day when I’m fortunate enough to move up to Cloudcroft, I’ll give them a visit.