Recent Closure May Not Be the End of Ned’s

Ned’s on the Rio Grande — the deep-rooted Albuquerque bar and grill — may have shut down at 1100 Rio Grande NW, but owner Ken Gattas said he’s hopeful the business isn’t gone forever.

Gattas said he’s heard from a number of people who want him to keep the place alive and that he and some potential investors will look for a new location.

“Right now I’m pretty sure (Ned’s will reopen elsewhere),” Gattas said Friday. “The demand seems fairly great, and if the interest is that great, I think we’ll go ahead and do this.”

Gattas said his lease expired at the North Valley site and an agreement couldn’t be reached for a new one. He closed down last week after about 14 years at the location.

Business had been steady, Gattas said, though “not as good as it had been in the past.”

Ned’s on the Rio Grande was just the most recent incarnation of an Albuquerque business that goes back decades. What Gattas said started as a package liquor store has had multiple iterations and Duke City locations. Previous menus have been heavy on seafood or salads, while Ned’s on the Rio Grande offered more Mexican dishes.

Sandwiches, however, have always been the calling card at Ned’s. The Stormin’ Norman — featuring a pile of turkey, ham, pastrami, Swiss, cheddar and green chile on pita bread — has survived many moves and changes, Gattas said.