Long-standing Mexican restaurant at Winrock to close

Pilar Martinez, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·2 min read

Jun. 22—ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The brick interior and colorful pieces of art at the Uptown location of Garduño's of Mexico will soon be a thing of the past.

Garduño's is poised to close its largest location at Albuquerque's Winrock Town Center July 3 after nearly 30 years of operation, according to company president Tug Herig.

Herig said that when the 12,000-square-foot Uptown location opened in 1993 it became one of the top Mexican restaurants in the country in terms of volume, but the demand for a restaurant of that size has decreased in the years since.

The company's lease with Goodman Realty Group has expired and was not renewed, according to Herig.

While the restaurant will be vacating its Winrock location, there are plans to either lease the space to a new restaurant or turn it into a new food hall, according to Goodman Realty Group vice president Scott Goodman.

Goodman said his company, which is the developer behind the center, would begin construction on the food hall early next year with an opening date that summer should that be the option they pursue.

The potential food hall would have eight to nine vendors from local restaurants, Goodman said.

Founded by Dave Garduño in 1981, Garduño's grew into a New Mexican favorite with the brand opening multiple restaurants in the region before being sold to Southwest Brands in 2011 following bankruptcy proceedings.

The company currently operates a West Side Garduño's location near the Cottonwood Mall and a location at Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town.

Herig, who has operated the Garduño's restaurants for the past 10 years, said the company is exploring the idea of new locations or licensing the brand for new products.

Following the Winrock closure, items from the restaurant will be auctioned off in mid-July, he said.

Items to be auctioned off include a canoe featured in "The Last of the Mohicans," wood carvings, artwork, restaurant equipment and other furnishings.

"I think the artwork and the iconic things coming from Mexico (like) the pots and everything is going to be really what's going to be attractive to a lot of people who want some memories of their beloved Garduño's," Herig said.