Blake's Lotaburger Opened at Coronado Center

The restaurant chain has expanded its presence in Albuquerque with a new space at the local shopping mall.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Openings & Closings

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Blake's Lotaburger has opened a new location at Albuquerque's Coronado Center, filling a vacancy and continuing the chain's expansion strategy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Blake's Lotaburger has opened a new restaurant inside the Coronado Center in Albuquerque. The chain secured the location after mall management reached out to fill a vacancy left by a former Burger House.

Why it matters

The opening marks a strategic move for the brand to establish a presence within a high-traffic shopping destination. The expansion supports the company's broader effort to grow its footprint beyond its current 77-store base.

The new 552-square-foot restaurant is located at 6600 Menaul NE and operates under a five-year lease. The site employs between 16 and 20 staff members.

The players

Blake's Lotaburger

Founded in 1952, this restaurant chain operates 77 locations across New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.

Coronado Center

This is a major shopping mall located in Albuquerque that actively recruits local vendors for its retail spaces.

The details

The restaurant occupies the former site of a Burger House and underwent four weeks of cosmetic renovations to meet facility codes. The new location features a limited breakfast menu to cater to mall visitors and shoppers.

Timeline

  1. September 18, 2026: The restaurant officially opened at Coronado Center.

  2. August 2026: The company completed four weeks of cosmetic work on the site.

  3. March 2026: Management at Coronado Center approached the chain about the vacant space.

  4. Q4 2026: The company plans to open additional locations in Las Cruces, Bayard, and Española.

Market Landscape

This opening aligns with a broader retail strategy where regional brands secure high-traffic mall sites to compete with national franchises. By occupying a small-format space, the company positions itself to capture consistent consumer foot traffic within the competitive food court sector.

Shoppers at Coronado Center can now access the chain's menu during their visits to the mall. The store provides a new dining option for visitors, with daily service starting at 10 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. on Sundays.

The takeaway

This new location highlights the ongoing effort by local businesses to revitalize mall spaces. Customers can expect a standard menu with limited breakfast options at this specific site.

What happens next

The company is scheduled to open new restaurant locations in Las Cruces, Bayard, and Española during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Further reading

For more information on local business activity, see the Albuquerque section.

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Do you prefer that malls prioritize local vendors over national chains in their food courts?