The green chile cheeseburger haven Santa Fe Bite, once known as Bobcat Bite in Santa Fe, will resurface tomorrow on Route 66 in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Albuquerque.
The Albuquerque version of Santa Fe Bite opens Monday at 3407 Central NE (aka Route 66) amid a string of funky and eclectic storefronts in Nob Hill.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, the original Bobcat Bite opened in 1953 on the Old Las Vegas Highway (aka old Route 66) south of Santa Fe.
After a dispute with the landlord, owners John and Bonnie Eckre moved to a space in the Garrett’s Desert Inn near the Santa Fe Plaza. That location closed last year after another landlord dispute, which brings us to Albuquerque. The Eckres are still looking for another site in Santa Fe.
In the meantime, they allowed a franchise location in the Duke City.
Customers walking into the cafe located next to The Guild Cinema will immediately notice a Route 66 ambience.
An old neon Pepsi sign, as well as Coke logos and tin images of Corvettes and Thunderbirds line the walls. A mural to the right features the business’ red circular logo splashed across a glittering view of Albuquerque.
Old Mason jars serve as glasses for bottled soft drinks, as well as lemonade and iced tea. […]
“The original Bobcat was on Route 66,” co-owner Chris Wagner said, “and this is Route 66, so we keep that tradition.” […]
Route 66 memorabilia will be available for sale. Customers who buy a tin sign trumpeting burgers for a quarter will pay 25 cents for their sandwich.
In addition to the famous green chile cheeseburgers, Santa Fe Bite in Albuquerque will offer New Mexican food and steaks, along with fish and chips on Fridays and fried chicken on Sunday.
KOB-TV in Albuquerque also produced this story about the restaurant’s imminent opening:
The Bobcat Bite / Santa Fe Bite’s signature dish is so esteemed, Hamburger America featured the restaurant in 2011. Here a video from New Mexico Tourism after the restaurant moved to Santa Fe’s downtown. Behold the glory:
Green chile cheeseburgers remain a quintessential dish in New Mexico. So many restaurants serve it in the Land of Enchantment, the state’s tourism bureau put together a Green Chile Cheeseburger Trail.
(Image of a green chile cheeseburger at Santa Fe Bite in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2018 by Kevin Jarrett via Flickr)