Retail round up: DIY candles and a Mexican joint are new arrivals

Upscale Mexican food, do-it-yourself candles and more places to thrift.

There's been some bustling activity in Albuquerque's retail scene, despite the closure of several long-time staples like O'Niell's Pub and Slice Parlor in Nob Hill in recent weeks.

A new restaurant and a new retail store both opened in Albuquerque, plus a thrift store expanded to a new location.

Herencia is an upscale Mexican restaurant that opened two months ago at 11225 Montgomery NE Suite D.

Henrique Valdovinos is the owner and chef of Herencia, a restaurant he said he had wanted to open for the past 10 years.

He was waiting to find the right location.

“Northeast Heights is the community I serve; it is where I live,” said Valdovinos.

Valdovinos is a professionally trained chef who has been practicing his craft for the last 50 years.

His restaurant features dishes from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Mazatlán.

The homemade tortillas are made from heirloom corn, and the entire menu is gluten-free.

Valdovinos grew up in Mexico and moved to New Mexico in 1995. He said his restaurant is inspired by his heritage, or herencia in Spanish.

Herencia is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed on Monday.

Fire of Sandia, a candle bar, is a new store in Albuquerque.

A 'make your own' candle shop, where the store provides wax, molds, scents and everything else the customer needs.

Marsha Souers is the owner of the candle bar. She was planning on retiring after 40 years of working in the medical field but instead opened a candle bar, according to her website.

The shop is at 1710 Central SW Suite C, and customers can book an appointment online at https://sandiacandlebar.com to schedule a candle-making session.

Vintage Vault, a popular Nob Hill thrift store, is expanding.

The original location made its debut at 3503 Central NE Suite E in July 2023.

The store offers vintage furniture, collectibles and décor with a mid-century and antique focus.

A year later, Vintage Vault has opened its second store at 4646 Menaul NE.

The mid-town store shares the same hours as its Central counterpart, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday.