Bob's bringing Burger Express to Enchanted Hills area

BERNALILLO — New Mexico’s decades-old family-run burger business is bringing a spin on its local chain to the Enchanted Hills area.

Taking over a closed Scooter’s Coffee building on NM 528 in Bernalillo is a drive-thru-only Bob’s Burgers, named Bob’s Burgers Express. Amanda and Thomas Salas, grandchildren of Bob’s Burgers’ founders Tom and Bob Salas, are aiming an opening toward the end of 2025.

“We bought the property, and we’re going to be turning it to a Bob’s Express. It’s going to be is a drive-thru only,” Amanda said.

The location will have a limited menu compared to other Bob’s locations but will still have main items people are familiar with, such Bob’s famous chili.

“The thought process is to get more cars through and hopefully not have the line take so long,” Amanda added.

A big thing for the Salas’s was the location of the building. Bob’s was looking to expand into that area but hadn’t found a spot that truly worked until Scooter’s closed. It was an ideal location because it serves both the Rio Rancho and Bernalillo communities.

“We deal with vandalism and theft pretty often, so having a safe area was really important to us. The concept is not too different or too foreign to us, because during COVID, we just did drive-thru only,” Thomas said.

The Salases also recognized the need for more food options in the area with more development heading to Rio Rancho.

“I feel like Rio Rancho and even the Bernalillo area, it’s just a really good community, and I feel like people really care about supporting local businesses and small businesses, so we appreciate what the community has done for our business,” Thomas said.

The Salases will have some of Bob’s core values carry over into the new location. One of the main ones is the business’ family-operated status. Since it was started in 1963, Bob’s has been in the Salas family. The siblings stated the restaurant is still has the feeling of a small business while also being widespread throughout the state.

Amanda noted that the family still has the original recipe for the famous chili that Bob and Tom created.

However, the Salases are encouraging customization menu items. Thomas said he recently heard someone order a hot dog in a taco shell.

“We always try and go out of the way for even the weird requests,” he said.

Amanda said she thinks Bob’s has done well for all these years because of those values and the chili. Thomas added that working at Bob’s is like a “stepping stone” for people growing up in New Mexico. Amanda and Thomas hope this new location can be that for others.

Amanda said they have also been contacting local schools for community outreach.

“We’re extremely excited. We love this community,” Amanda said. “We hope the concept of a Bob’s Express also makes them excited for something a little new as well.”

For more information, visit bobsburgersnewmexico.com.