Flying Star Reopening Marks 4th New Business This Week in Nob Hill, 14th Business to Re-Open or Start in Nob Hill This Year
Continuing a trend of reinvestment and small business growth in Nob Hill, the reopening of Flying Star Café’s Nob Hill location marks the fourth new business to open or re-open in Nob Hill this week, and the 14th new business to open or announce new Nob Hill locations this year, notes City Councilor Pat Davis who represents the University and Nob Hill area.
“Nob Hill is definitely the place to be again,” says Councilor Davis. “Two years ago I began convening business owners to bring new city investments to parking, safety and helping the right type of businesses succeed – by their own words, we’re doing just that and we’re ready for the city to see!”
In July, Nob Hill was ranked Albuquerque’s best neighborhood for millennials, citing the walkability, diversity of business and restaurant options, and new energy for this iconic neighborhood.
“We want the entire city to come see what we’re doing here,” says Councilor Davis. “Landmark businesses including Scalos and Flying Star are getting million dollar facelifts and re-opening, young new millennial entrepreneurs turned the closed Disco Display House into a chic modern plaza centered around businesses built on sharing New Mexico pride. It's time to put the old narratives to rest and start tell the new story of the resurgence of Albuquerque's favorite neighborhood.”
New businesses opening or re-opening today are:
- Organ Mountain Outfitters, (opening today), 3500 Block Central Ave NE (@Disco)
- Flying Star Café, 3416 Central Ave SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
- Little Bear Coffee Co. in Nob Hill @Disco, ), 3500 Block Central Ave NE (@Disco)
New businesses recently opening in the Nob Hill corridor include:
- Nob Hill Forum (March 2019), co-working spaces for artisan professionals, 3339 Central Ave SE
- Nob Hill Bar & Grill (September 2019), re-opened with new management, September 2019
- SooBak, (July 2019), 120 Amherst SE, 11-year food truck operators chose Nob Hill as the location for their first brick-and-mortar restaurant concept
- Santa Fe Bite, (July 2019), When Santa Fe’s most popular green chile cheeseburger restaurant looked for a place to open their first Albuquerque location, they chose Nob Hill.
- Hanna Tepanyaki (Nov 2019), Successful Asian food restaurateurs chose Nob Hill as the location of their next concept, 3509 Central Ave NE
- Scalo’s (re-opening early 2020), 3500 Central Ave SE, Construction is underway at the long-time NH favorite Scalos’s after new owners announced plans to reopen in the same location in early 2020
- Cinnamon Café (July 2019). Nob Hill Shopping Center, 3500 Central Ave SE
- NM United (Jan 2019), Nob Hill Shopping Center, 3500 Central Ave SE
- Organic Books (Nov 2018), 111 Carlisle Blvd SE
- Pollitos Con Papas II, (April 2019), 3200 Central Ave SE
- Albuquerque Distilling, (September 2019), 5001 Central Ave NE
- Farmacy, (Nov 2018), 3718 Central Ave SE. The popular downtown eatery chose Nob Hill to expand, citing the availability of larger space and walkability for customers.
- Desert Tiki (Nov 2019), limited service now, full service Nov. 2018. 3501 Central Ave SE
Additional businesses have announced plans to open new coffee roasters, distilleries and specialty retail in early 2020.
In addition to the DeAnza Motor Lodge reopening (October 2019), Titan Development and partners are currently constructing a new 100+ unit apartment complex in the heart of East Nob Hill and owners of the historic University Lodge announced that they are under design to convert the iconic property to a “chic, retro” boutique motel in the historic heart of the district.
“Nob Hill is once again the place you want to visit just to see what’s new,” says Councilor Davis. “We’re inviting the whole city to come see the new Nob Hill.”
New Programs and City Investments in Nob Hill
In 2017, Davis added budget amendments expanding the downtown Block by Block program to Nob Hill and used $80,000 of Councilor-directed funds to add parking spaces, making 50 spaces available for shoppers and employees.
In 2018, Mayor Keller announced the re-opening of the APD Triangle Sub-Station, providing part-time dedicated APD presence for the first-time in 4 years.
In 2019, Davis drafted and sponsored city budget amendments adding $1 million to APD’s budget for dedicated Central Avenue Business Beat officers and $500,000 for new marketing funds to promote Central Avenue as a destination (RFP expected next month, 2020 program).
Just last week, Davis and APD command staff introduced two new bicycle officer teams to University-Nob Hill merchants, and APD showed off a new police ATV patrol vehicle for Nob Hill purchased with Davis’ discretionary public safety funds. They now provide 7 day-a-week bike officer coverage for businesses along the corridor.