USA: Mexican Restaurant Improves Albuquerque Presence

A local Mexican restaurant is expanding in Albuquerque. Albuquerque-based Cielito Lindo will be opening two new stores, according to the owner.

The first will be in Peterson Properties' new development on 6th Street and Lomas Boulevard.

The property, 616 Lomas Blvd., was previously owned by a private owner out of California and used to be residential. Peterson Properties bought the property for $290,000, according to Peterson Properties President Douglas Peterson.

The development is expected to be completed by February 2018.

The second Cielito Lindo location will be at Central Avenue and 52nd Street. Cielito Lindo owner German Pena did not say when that location would be open.

But Pena did say Cielito Lindo would be leasing the property and not building. He declined to disclose specifics of the lease agreement.

Pena told Albuquerque Business First he thought the expansion would be good for business, which serves Mexican and seafood dishes, and he said he would like to increase his staff.

He said he's encouraged by the amount of people he's seen in his current location at 416 San Pedro Dr.

New Mexico restaurants generate more than $3 billion in annual sales and employ more than 83,000 people, according to New Mexico Restaurant Association.