Panda Express launches new Albuquerque location
Published
Modified
Customers quickly got busy stuffing their faces with orange chicken at Panda Express鈥� new Albuquerque location last week.
While many ooh鈥檇 and ahh鈥檇 at the fresh design of the new restaurant, 4-year-old Maya Abreu was most concerned with the giant costume panda walking around.
鈥淚 really want to see the panda,鈥� she said as she and her mother, Maribel Abreu, walked out with food in hand and Justin Timberlake鈥檚 鈥淐an鈥檛 Stop the Feeling!鈥� blasting over speakers.
The new location opened its doors at 2040 Gibson SE on Wednesday.
Meals on Wheels New Mexico, a local nonprofit that delivers meals to people鈥檚 homes, received a $1,000 check at the opening, and the first 88 customers received free T-shirts and a balloon with a mini-panda toy tied to it.
鈥淥ur entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Albuquerque community by providing new jobs and supporting local organizations...鈥� said Juan Mejia, a Panda Express area coach of operations, in a statement.
The new 2,700-square-foot location created roughly 40 jobs and expands the number of Panda Express restaurants in Albuquerque to 15, according to Mejia. The Gibson location is one of two in Albuquerque featuring the chain鈥檚 newest restaurant design, Mejia said.
鈥淲e hope to be a lasting part of the community,鈥� Mejia said.
