“It’s sometimes hard to accept when something has burned so bright and then it’s just not working anymore,” says Erin Wade, the owner of Vinaigrette. After 14 years of operating in Albuquerque, the popular restaurant—known for its specialized focus on salads, soups, and sandwiches—is set to close its Downtown location on November 5. The decision marks the end of a long-standing fixture in the city’s culinary scene, impacting approximately 30 employees.
A Perfect Storm of Economic Pressure
The closure of the Downtown Albuquerque site follows a difficult multi-year period for the hospitality industry. As reported by the Albuquerque Journal, the restaurant’s struggles were not triggered by a single event but by a confluence of compounding challenges. The initial headwinds began years ago with the construction of the Albuquerque Rapid Transit system along Central Avenue, which disrupted local traffic patterns. This was followed by the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which permanently altered work-from-home habits and reduced the volume of daily lunch crowds.
National trends have mirrored these local difficulties. According to an October Gallup poll cited in the Journal, the frequency with which Americans dine out has reached a new low. Only 39% of Americans report eating at a restaurant at least once a week, a significant decline from 53% in 2019. This industry-wide shift, coupled with rising inflation and customer price sensitivity, created a environment where breaking even became increasingly difficult.
The Relocation That Changed Everything
For Vinaigrette, the situation reached a breaking point in 2024. The restaurant was forced to relocate from 1828 Central SW to a new space just two blocks away at 1720 Central SE. Wade described the move as rushed, driven by pressures from the landlord who owned both properties. The transition meant the kitchen team lacked the necessary time to train in the new space, leading to operational inefficiencies that caused a noticeable drop in service quality.
“When you get off on the wrong foot in restaurants, you sometimes have a hard time fixing it—and you get in a downward spiral of disappointing customers,” Wade explained. Compounding the issue was a lack of awareness among the regular clientele; many patrons simply assumed the restaurant had closed entirely when it moved, leading to a sharp decline in sales throughout 2024.
Landlord Sues Restaurant over Unpaid Rent
The financial strain eventually led to a legal confrontation. Jay Rembe’s Country Club Plaza Partners LLC filed a lawsuit against Wade and Vinaigrette in the 2nd Judicial District Court on August 10. The landlord alleges that the restaurant has been “chronically behind” on rent and vendor payments, claiming an unpaid balance of $53,010 as of the time a three-day quit notice was issued in July.
“We remain committed to the area,” Rembe said, noting his long-term investment in Downtown Albuquerque and his belief that neighborhoods are built by strong local businesses.
The lawsuit also seeks to recover $196,689 in previously forgiven rent from two other former businesses operated by Wade in the same vicinity, Modern General and The Feel Good. Wade disputes these claims, arguing that she met the conditions for rent forgiveness—which included investing over half a million dollars into building upgrades—and describes the landlord’s current posture as unexpectedly hostile. While the litigation continues, Wade maintains that the legal dispute is not the primary reason for the closure; rather, she reached a point where she no longer believed the business model was viable under current conditions.
Vinaigrette Keeps Other Locations Operating
While the Albuquerque chapter is coming to an end, the Vinaigrette brand remains active elsewhere. The Santa Fe location, which opened in 2008, and the Austin, Texas, location, which launched in 2016, will continue to operate. Wade expressed a commitment to settling all outstanding debts associated with the Albuquerque closure, noting that the success of the other two locations provides a stable foundation for the transition.
For employees and regulars in Albuquerque, the closure of 1720 Central SE is more than a business failure; it marks the loss of a hub that struggled to adapt to the post-pandemic retail market that many urban centers are still trying to define. As the doors prepare to lock on November 5, the focus shifts to how the city’s Downtown corridor will continue to evolve in an era where the traditional dining-out model continues to face unprecedented headwinds.
