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Winrock to welcome Taiwanese chain 85°C Bakery Cafe — New Mexico's first
The chain is known globally for its fresh pastries, breads, cakes and specialty drinks
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Named for what it considers to be the ideal temperature for brewing a perfect cup of coffee, 85°C Bakery Cafe is bringing its fresh pastries, breads, cakes and specialty drinks to the Land of Enchantment.
The international chain plans to open its first New Mexico location at Winrock Town Center, according to Sheila Smith, vice president of leasing and marketing for Goodman Realty Group.
Goodman, Winrock’s owner, finalized a 10-year lease with 85°C in January after the chain expressed interest in entering the Albuquerque market. The chain will soon begin renovations in order to open the location sometime between late summer and early fall, Smith said.
“I think the brand is definitely going to bring something new and exciting to the community,” Smith said.
The company’s founder, Cheng-Hsueh Wu, launched the business in Taiwan in 2003. He was inspired by a visit to another cafe in a five-star hotel, where he discovered gourmet pastries and drinks priced “way too high for people to enjoy on a whim,” the 85°C website says.
He launched his cafe aiming to prioritize both premium products and affordability. Today, the company has more than 1,000 locations worldwide.
The company launched its first United States location in Irvine, California, in 2008, and has since expanded its operations to 13 additional states, with New Mexico marking its 15th.
The chain will fill a 2,978-square-foot space formerly occupied by Slapfish, which suddenly closed the location earlier this year.
The bakery cafe joins a now fully occupied portion of Winrock real estate, where Gimani, Burger 21, Jamba, Mark Prado SalonSpa, Takumi Restaurant, The Joint Chiropractic and Firehouse Subs also reside.
Since acquiring the property in 2007, Goodman has overhauled the shopping mall into an indoor-outdoor, mixed-use destination with a wide variety of tenants. Other businesses that have joined the center in recent months include Ethan Allen, Chicken Salad Chick, BODYBAR Pilates and RS21.
Smith said 85°C will bring “a unique culinary offering” to Winrock and its growing dining and shopping scene.
Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Journal. You can reach her at kgarcia@abqjournal.com.
