[Neighbors] Route 66 nostalgia powers revitalization of Nob Hill Center. Heritage Cos. to revamp tenant mix, make physical upgrades over next two years

[kingkb]

Hi all,

I, too, saw this ~ looks pretty hopeful for nice work to come at Nob 
Hill Center. Also nice to hear of hopes of keeping the Coop:)

Thought I'd share a heads up I recently got that is worth attention.

Apparently, parking will be (or has) significantly changed. The area 
behind the Coop is no longer offering unlimited time for free parking. 
What I heard (I had walked) is that you will need to scan a code from a 
parking sign in order to get one hour of free parking. After that, it's 
expensive (I was told $75 and up).

Now, if someone out there knows this is not correct, I will thank you 
bunches for setting me ~ and everyone I just cautioned ~ straight!

Karen on Hermosa

On Apr 7 2026 10:02 AM, meyster1--- via Neighbors_nobhill-nm wrote:

> Forwarding this item from this morning's ABQ Journal for your interest.
> 
> We still have a couple of newsletter routes that need delivery. If you 
> can help please email newsletter at nobhill-nm.com
> 
> New Mexico businessman Jim Long remembers the awe he felt as a kid 
> traveling along Route 66, enamored by the neon signs, unique diners and 
> history he encountered along the way.
> 
> Long -- now the founder and CEO of Heritage Cos., which owns many of 
> the state's prominent hotels and culturally significant properties -- 
> is hoping to instill that same sense of discovery into Nob Hill Center, 
> formerly Nob Hill Business Center, at 3500 Central SE along old Route 
> 66.
> 
> Heritage acquired the 47,315-square-foot property in March of last 
> year, announcing plans to "preserve and revive the historic shopping 
> center," Long previously said. Now, more than a year later, Long shared 
> that Heritage's vision for the property includes a renovation and 
> leasing revamp effort slated to begin this year.
> 
> In addition to the new name, the project will include upgrading the 
> property with a new patio, classic awnings, fresh bold accent colors, 
> new signage, Route 66-inspired murals by local artists and an enhanced 
> street presence through improved softscaping, lighting and pathways.
> 
> The aim of the upgrades is to create "a walkable, light-filled 
> destination that feels both nostalgic and newly alive," according to a 
> flyer outlining Heritage's vision for the property.
> 
> Heritage will get started on the property's new awnings in about two to 
> three months, but construction on the remaining architectural upgrades 
> will likely begin this fall and wrap up early next spring, pending the 
> necessary permitting and a review from the city's Landmark Commission.
> 
> The U-shaped property, built between 1946 and 1947, was New Mexico's 
> first modern suburban shopping center, according to its website. Today, 
> Nob Hill Center is home to several tenants, including a New Mexico 
> United shop, Gecko's Bar & Tapas, La Montañita Food Co-op and Organic 
> Books -- but the tenant lineup will look a little different in the 
> coming years.
> 
> Over the next couple years, Heritage will be looking for tenants to 
> fill both the property's existing vacant spaces and spaces that they 
> expect to be vacant soon.
> 
> One of these spaces is a former Italian restaurant by the name of 
> Scalo, which closed in August after the owners were hit with a sexual 
> harassment lawsuit and failed to find a buyer for the eatery.
> 
> The space will remain a restaurant in Heritage's plans for the 
> property, Long said. Several prominent chefs have toured the space and 
> are considering it, he added, but nothing official has panned out yet.
> 
> The center also has two small retail vacancies, but the majority of the 
> tenant revamp will occur in about two years -- when the bulk of the 
> center's current leases expire, Long said.
> 
> Heritage is also expecting the departure of some tenants for other 
> reasons, including New Mexico United, which will close its Nob Hill 
> shop when the soccer team's new facility is built. The company plans to 
> add a patio to the space and fill it with a dining option, Long said.
> 
> La Montañita's presence in the center is also up in the air, as Long 
> said the community- owned grocery store's growth is making the Nob Hill 
> location a difficult one to operate out of for logistical reasons. But 
> the co-op is a tenant Heritage hopes to keep, so Long said the company 
> is in talks with La Montañita about building them a new location on the 
> corner of Amherst and Silver SE to help meet their and their customers' 
> needs.
> 
> If that occurs, it's unclear who would fill that space. Long said it 
> probably wouldn't be a grocery store, but it would be a tenant that 
> aligns with the company's overall vision for the property.
> 
> "We see this as an opportunity to revitalize the center, invest some 
> capital in the property to bring it to a different level of physical 
> condition and then carefully curate a collection of tenants that we 
> feel will be the right mix for the future of this asset," Long said.
> 
> In Heritage's view, the right mix includes tenants that are all local, 
> independent and offer "something rare, nostalgic or handcrafted," the 
> company's flyer says.
> 
> "We're not necessarily looking for big brands with a big balance sheet, 
> we're looking for somebody who does something very unique and very 
> special," Long said, adding that Heritage is seeing high demand for 
> rare finds and experiences across its properties.
> 
> In addition to handcrafted, the company wants to "play off the 
> strengths of the area" and create a vintage retro feel at the center by 
> attracting tenants that fit in some of the following categories: 
> antiques and found items, records and vinyl shop, retro game store, 
> comic books, candy store, leather goods and hat shop. Supporting local 
> startups will also be a priority for the center, Long said.
> 
> "The Nob Hill Center is not a mall or marketplace," the company's Nob 
> Hill Center flyer says. "It's a curated community of local visionaries, 
> artisans and local chefs who embody the timeless appeal of Route 66: 
> adventure, authenticity and Americana."
> 
> Over the last several years, the center "lost some of its luster," due 
> to challenges with ART bus construction, COVID closures and a shifting 
> retail landscape, Long and the flyer said. But with a selective tenant 
> plan and some of those challenges now behind Nob Hill -- as well as 
> this year being the centennial of Route 66 -- Long said he thinks now 
> is the time for a project like this.
> 
> "It's all positive going forward," Long said. "There's a lot of new 
> food establishments that have been opening, and they're doing well. So 
> things are really shaping up nicely for Nob Hill, and it's exciting to 
> be part of that."
> 
> Sent from my iPad
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