In-N-Out scouts two potential locations on Albuquerque’s West Side

ALBUQUERQUE — They say all good things come in threes. Apparently, so do popular burger joints.

In-N-Out Burger — a restaurant chain with more than 400 locations scattered primarily throughout the West Coast — has shed light on plans for two potential locations on Albuquerque’s West Side.

The restaurant chain confirmed the plans in a series of emails to the Journal on Thursday and Friday. It is still too early in the development process to know if those possible locations will pan out, according to Mike Abbate, In-N-Out Burger’s vice president of store development.

This brings the total number of known planned Albuquerque locations to three. The planned locations include Cottonwood Mall, a vacant lot at 3811 Coors NW and a vacant lot off of Gibson and Interstate 25.

Abbate said in a statement that In-N-Out Burger is still in the development application process for the possible Cottonwood location and in the pre-development process for the potential Coors location. Therefore, he said, “it’s too early to say when or if we will be able to obtain the approvals necessary” to open a restaurant at either spot.

The burger chain, known for its burgers, fries and shakes, announced in 2023 that it would be venturing into New Mexico, with plans to open in the Albuquerque area by 2027. Other New Mexico cities could welcome In-N-Out restaurants “in the years beyond,” a November 2023 news release said.

The first planned location was revealed shortly after, with the University of New Mexico telling the Journal that In-N-Out would be a tenant in the university’s South Campus Tax Increment Development District.

At the time, In-N-Out had begun the process of purchasing roughly two acres of land from UNM for $2 million with the intention of building a restaurant near the fire station off of Gibson and I-25. Tom Neale, UNM’s director of real estate, told the Journal the transaction between UNM and In-N-Out for that location was expected to close in May 2025.

Plans for the additional two West Side locations were revealed in one fell swoop, after screenshots of alleged letters from In-N-Out to the city of Albuquerque’s Development Facilitation Team regarding plans for the locations started circulating on the social platform Reddit this week.

According to the Bernalillo County assessor’s website, In-N-Out is listed as the current owner of a two-acre vacant commercial lot at 3811 Coors NW. The lot is located near St. Josephs NW and sits in proximity to a Chick-fil-A, Panera Bread, Starbucks, Blake’s Lotaburger and a 7 Brew under construction.

Additionally, the potential Cottonwood Mall location would be a new build located outside the mall itself, an In-N-Out spokesperson told the Journal. The letter circulating in social media says the site has a little over one acre, which is currently made up of surface parking and landscaping.

As the restaurant chain’s development plans undergo the steps of gaining approval, Abbate said in a statement the In-N-Out team remains “hopeful to serve the community of Albuquerque and are truly grateful for the support we’ve received from the state of New Mexico.”