Taking care of business: A roundup of 2024's most popular biz stories

1. L&L Hawaiian BBQ to open one of first NM locations in RR (Aug. 6, 2024)

Robert and Stasia Ybarra announced the opening of the Rio Rancho location, along with one in Albuquerque, late in the summer. As of Dec. 31, 2024, the Rio Rancho location is describes as “coming soon” in the company’s website.

2. Scooters Coffee in Rio Rancho has closed (Nov. 8, 2024)

The location on Southern Boulevard closed this fall after being open just over a year in Rio Rancho. The Bernalillo location remains open near Enchanted Hills, as does the Uptown Albuquerque location.

3. US Cotton to shut down Rio Rancho production (Sept. 4, 2024)

The company announced the end of Rio Rancho’s production in 2025 as it will be consolidating consumer products manufacturing from the local facility to those in Cleveland, Ohio, and Belmont, North Carolina. The company has been in Rio Rancho since relocating here in 1990. Production will be reduced in phases with complete shutdown expected in the third quarter of 2025.

4. New 2 You celebrates grand opening in Rio Rancho (June 28, 2024)

The new thrift shop opened its doors over the summer and features housewares items, electronics and clothing.

5. County amends lease with Intel, addresses layoff concerns (Sept. 12, 2024)

The new agreement extends the spending period, or completion date, to 2034. The company’s officials also assured the commission that the layoffs announced the previous month were largely in human resources and that local employment numbers will go up because the company is moving technology development resources from Oregon to Sandoval County.

6. PHOTOS: The Block is ready to go as grand opening nears (Aug. 29, 2024)

This sneak peek at the Enchanted Hills development was welcome news as the project had faced several delays to its opening.

7. Ridgecrest Albertsons sold through course of Kroger merger (July 10, 2024)

The announcement led to a lot of speculation about what the grocery store location would become. However, it was all a moot point as the merger fell apart by year’s end.

8. Lego store building its foundation in Rio Rancho (Nov. 19, 2024)

Big Brother’s Bricks is hoping to have its doors open soon and will sell new sets and trade and buy new and used sets, including vintage sets and a collection of individual pieces people might need.

9. Raising Cane’s opening could induce traffic issues (May 28, 2024)

After long delays at the opening of the Albuquerque location in 2023, there was worry one of Rio Rancho’s major intersections could get backed up with the restaurant’s opening. However, traffic appeared to move smoothly throughout the day.

10. NM’s first Chicken Salad Chick set to open Tuesday (April 21, 2024)

A fast-casual chicken salad restaurant just across Rio Rancho city limits drew big crowds to its opening. The owners say they plan to build multiple locations throughout the state.