In-N-Out Albuquerque build is behind schedule despite June 2027 goal

In-N-Out Burger is targeting June 2027 to complete construction on its first New Mexico restaurant, according to documents filed with the Albuquerque Planning Department. The fast-food chain, which operates more than 400 locations across 10 states, first announced plans to expand into the state three years ago. The new restaurant will be located at 3811 Coors NW in the Oxbow Center.

The timeline for the Coors Boulevard site appears to be lagging behind the chain's standard construction window. In-N-Out Director of Real Estate Matt Loevenguth stated that it usually takes the company about nine months to build and open a new restaurant. With the target completion date set for mid-2027, the project is already behind that typical schedule. None of the three Albuquerque sites have seen construction activity as of late October 2026.

In-N-Out submitted permit filings for three locations in Albuquerque over the summer of 2026. In addition to the Coors Boulevard site, the chain is developing restaurants in the parking lot of the Cottonwood Mall at Dillard's and immediately west of the fire station on Gibson Boulevard. Building permits for the Coors and Gibson locations have been issued. The site plan for the Cottonwood Mall location has also been approved.

Lynsi Snyder, the president and owner of In-N-Out Burger, addressed the New Mexico expansion during a recent interview with actor Terry Crews. The interview was posted to the company's website to celebrate the chain's 78th year in business. Snyder acknowledged the local anticipation for the brand. "New Mexico's been waiting for us, and it will be soon," Snyder said.

Snyder described the company's growth strategy as slow and steady. She noted that while some observers might perceive the expansion as rapid, the chain maintains a consistent growth rate. "We have a very steady growth rate, and it's not really going up, in fact sometimes we don't hit that because you're dealing with permits and all sorts of things with the cities," Snyder said. She identified Arkansas, Mississippi, and Oklahoma as other potential states for future expansion, a move enabled by the recent opening of a second corporate office and distribution center in Tennessee.

When a new location breaks ground, In-N-Out typically experiences high demand. Snyder said that new restaurants often see long lines and customers camping out for openings. "When we go to a new state or a new area … people are just, they're losing their minds, and they're so excited," Snyder said. She added that the company aims to maintain consistent food quality and a family-like atmosphere, regardless of whether a location features a California, Spanish, or retro aesthetic.

Snyder said the decision to open in a new market involves prayer and evaluating whether the chain's founders, her grandparents, would approve. The company also tracks demand through a spreadsheet of requests from different states. "I feel like there's a piece knowing that In-N-Out isn't everywhere," Snyder said. "I just want to protect and steward what has been passed to me."

An In-N-Out spokesperson said in late October that the company does not have any updates to share regarding the start of construction. Several people familiar with the developments told the Albuquerque Journal that the chain intends to open the Coors and Gibson restaurants first and around the same time. This approach is designed to disperse traffic across the two sites.

The Coors Boulevard location is the primary focus of the current permit filings. The chain has not announced specific opening dates for the other two sites, but the target for the Coors site remains June 2027. The company continues to process permits for the remaining locations while it waits to begin physical construction on the ground.