New suites developing at old Mannie's Restaurant

When former Nob Hill staple Mannie’s Restaurant announced its closure in 2020 after 55 years of business, fans of the restaurant wondered what would replace the Albuquerque classic at Girard and Central,

In early 2023, the site was demolished so builders could bring something new to the area.

Now, construction has began to create a new space to be leased out to businesses. A local architect is designing what could be one or two suites that could be suitable for either a restaurant, retail shop or business, and he aims to design the building like the brewery next door, which is also his project.

Anthony Anella, president and design architect of real estate development and holding company Parkland Hills, said plans for the space went through a lot of changes before the company decided to demolish it and start from scratch.

“Plans for the space evolved over time. The building was designed to be used as a single suite or subdivided into two suites. This strategy will add some flexibility for our tenants,” Anella said.

Originally, Anella attempted to keep the spirit of Mannie’s restaurant alive by keeping some of the building’s old bones in place. However, due to aging infrastructure, the plan was scrapped.

“We looked long and hard at remodeling the space, but we came to the conclusion that it didn’t make sense to do that because the plumbing and building was old and the ceilings were pretty low,” Anella said. “We decided to rebuild everything entirely.”

When Anella said everything would be redone, he meant it. From sewage lines to new plumbing systems, the entire space will be new.

Andy Hart, owner of Hart construction, said the building will be optimal for dual or single businesses.

“There’s things in place where sewer and water lines can come into the building and can be split. Each suite has its own utilities,” Hart said.

The space will be powered entirely by photovoltaic panels.

“As a committed conservationist and as an architect, I’m interested in photovoltaic systems and how they can be integrated aesthetically into the building design. They’re often added on as an afterthought,” said Anella. “Our approach was integrate them into the design to highlight them.”

Other additions to the space include two outdoor patios, one for each unit.

“Mannie’s had an outdoor patio so we are continuing that pattern,” Anella said.

The design might be familiar to New Mexican residents, as it will be done in a similar style to Bosque Brewing, which is next door at Central and Girard SE. Anella worked on the design for the brewery, so he wanted to keep a consistent style for his other work.

“The intention was to be consistent with design. It’s my aesthetic. I prefer simple and efficient design,” he said.

The building will also have large murals done by a local artists, but Anella has not decided who will do the artwork.

“We plan on finding a local mural painter to paint murals. The arts play a big role in the culture of New Mexico and this site is an important cultural location and it lends itself to the cultural impression,” he said.

It’s unclear what businesses will work out of the new space.

“Based on history, a restaurant would be a good fit but it could be a combo retail space or an office space. We’re open to whatever the market is interested in,” Anella said.

He said the building will be in a prime location because it is near the University of New Mexico in the Nob Hill area.

“It’s right by the university, which is the flagship of the state and Nob Hill is an organic retail success story. People in the area have disposable income to support the businesses in the area,” Anella said

Construction is expected to take six months to finish.

“We’re going to start going vertical very soon,” Hart said. “The building is very beautifully designed. There will be wonderful patios and the whole thing is very energy efficient. It’s not a run of the mill retail box. It’s an honor to build a nice building like this.”