New operator set to revive popular Albuquerque mini-golf venue

A local business is getting the ball rolling to revive a former staple of Albuquerque’s entertainment scene.

The corner of San Mateo and McLeod NE has sparked intrigue among Albuquerque residents over the last several weeks as a sign signaling the business will reopen soon has appeared in front of the former Putt-Putt Golf & Games at 5100 San Mateo NE.

Rumors that a local brewery called Brew Lab — which owns two locations in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque — is reportedly connected to the mini-golf property and behind its apparent revitalization began to swirl last week.

Scott Salvas, owner and master brewer of Brew Lab, told the Journal that no formal announcements have or will be made yet, but confirmed that “something is in the works by a sister company of ours.”

He declined to name the sister company but said it plans to turn the space into “a great place for the community, families and people of all ages.”

The group plans to release more details about the future business’ new name and concept in the coming weeks as they aim to reopen the entertainment spot in the spring.

“We are very excited and privileged to be bringing an Albuquerque icon back to life,” Salvas said.

Putt-Putt opened in 1972 and served as a popular destination for families and field trips for years before suddenly shutting down in 2017. The business included a restaurant, an old-fashioned arcade and an outdoor course adorned with zebra and giraffe statues that still greet drivers along San Mateo Boulevard today.

An entity by the name of G3 Investors LLC owns the property, according to the Bernalillo County Assessor’s website. G3 Investors, created in 2003, is a real estate holding company of the Garcia family, which owns Garcia Automotive Group. The company acquired the Putt-Putt property in an off-market deal sometime after the business closed, according to Carlos Garcia, the group’s general manager.

“(It’s) one of the best corners in the city,” Garcia said. “Great location, tons of traffic (and) lots of parking.”

The family explored several opportunities and tenants for the property before leasing it to Brew Lab’s sister company last year. The property was never brought to market because the owners were getting “multiple calls every week” about the property, Garcia said.

None of the deals explored ever got far because the family was waiting for a tenant that could bring the best use to the property, Garcia said.

“We try to do things that make the city better, not just what makes money for us,” Garcia said.

Garcia said he is not privy to all of the details surrounding the new tenant’s plans for the property, but believes they will open “a miniature-golf establishment that serves beer.” He also said Putts and Pints was the working name included in the plan, but noted it’s ultimately up to the tenant and the name could change.

As someone who made many memories visiting the old Putt-Putt business, Garcia knows first hand what the location once offered the community.

“It was a major hangout for me and my friends in high school, and my brother’s best friend was the manager there when I was a kid, so I used to get a lot of game tokens,” Garcia said. “Everybody loved going there. It was an awesome place. I’m excited to see it be reborn.”