Mixed-retail, entertainment hotspot inching closer to reality

Jan. 29—An entertainment and hospitality hub is closer to opening at Winrock Town Center.

Locally owned Goodman Realty is launching a mixed-retail space where visitors can shop, eat, lodge, play and enjoy live entertainment such as concerts and comedians.

A 2.5-acre park with a lake, children's playground, entertainment stage, walking paths and a grassy lawn is set to open in late spring or early summer.

"Winrock Park has been in the making for the last 15 years or more and it is finally coming to fruition," said Darin Sand, senior vice president of development at Goodman Realty Group. "It's really a community space. It's unlike anything in Albuquerque. And I'd venture to say in New Mexico."

The vision for Winrock Town Center's new addition follows national trends and provides a space for people to mingle.

"We're really thinking about it in terms of giving Albuquerque an amenity for the residents here, but also for those traveling or those thinking about where they want to move," Sand said. "This will give them another piece of the puzzle to fit within their plans."

Goodman Realty is collaborating with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority on the lake. Plans to partner with certain schools to educate children and their parents about the site are being discussed.

"Our lake is all sourced with reclaimed water," Sand said. "We are partnering with the water authority and we want to educate people about water conservation and how this park is all irrigated with second-generation water, and that's important in the desert."

A restaurant and bar will be in the center of the park with a patio overlooking the water and another patio with views of the entertainment stage. Achildren's play area on the opposite side of the park keeps things family friendly.

"There's walking paths around the park," Sand said. "They intertwine through the landscaping. ... It's going to be almost a treasure hunt at times as you're walking around the path. You'll discover new little parts. You'll see different angles. We have artwork throughout the park and we'll have food carts."

The intent is to create a space that is a must-see for residents and out-of-town visitors. In addition to live music, there are plans for craft shows, holiday strolls, farmers markets and other community events such as a health and wellness fair, bicycle rides and 10-kilometer runs.

Across the street from the park will be a a new three-story office building. The two top floors will house office spaces, with retail spaces on the bottom floor. A compounding pharmacy also is set to open.

"Trends nationally, in terms of office use, are leaning towards places such as Winrock," Sand explained. "If you're going to have an office, you're going to encourage your employees to come to a place like Winrock. It is where you would want to be. You have so many amenities, restaurants, you have doctors, you have shopping, you have PetSmart, you can get everything done, entertainment."

For laughs, visitors can head to Hyena's Comedy Nightclub, which will be in the basement space of New Mexico Orthopaedics.

"It's kind of a cool vibe, downstairs in the basement, with a comedy club with top acts," Sand said. "And then, you can walk upstairs, and right there is the park with things going on. You can make a whole evening out of it."

A 150-room Marriott Hotel is set to open in March. It will be adjacent to the office and retail space. Nearby, Fidelity Investments will move into a new building where the shuttered Macaroni Grill once stood. Another new structure will house a restaurant tenant. It will be built south of the current Red Robin location. Future plans to install a trolley that will shuttle visitors around Winrock Town Center are being considered.

It's expected that Winrock Town Center soon will be a place to call home for hundreds of apartment dwellers.

"We do have 200 apartments planned," Sand said. "I have yet to know if we're actually going to start construction this year. We hope to."

Many things are in the works, including more buildings, according to Sand.

"We're looking to continue to build the sense of community and amenities around the park," he said. "The park is amazing with all those things I mentioned. But we'd like to put more restaurants and boutiques around there and local shops that you can walk in and out of like a little mountain town. ... That's kind of how we envision it."