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NEWS

Future of Lindy’s Diner remains in limbo

Portion of historic Bliss Building collapses Downtown as city officials, engineers assess damage and weigh what comes next for beloved eatery

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The fate of the historic Bliss Building and anchor tenant Lindy’s Diner remained uncertain Tuesday after a portion of the building collapsed the day before.

The northeast exterior wall of Lindy’s Diner in Downtown Albuquerque fell Monday afternoon — days after the restaurant was ordered to close because of structural safety hazards — sending a flood of bricks and debris down with it.

Diner and building owner Steve Vatoseow said Tuesday that when he saw the diner’s walls collapse, it was like “watching a horror movie,” adding that his ultimate goal is to save the building.

“It was terrible, seeing your life collapse in front of you. We put our whole lives into that place, and we’re still in shock, to be honest,” Vatoseow said. “It’s a piece of Albuquerque history and it would be devastating to turn it into a parking lot or something.”

Vatoseow previously told the Journal that he knew the building would need work at some point. He estimated it would take a minimum of $100,000 to resolve the immediate issues that caused the city to deem the two-story building hazardous.

The city gave Vatoseow until May 4 to take corrective action, though by Monday it was already too late. It is up to city officials and structural engineers to assess the damage and determine the future of the property.

“The City of Albuquerque is reviewing reports from the Planning Department and will provide an update on the future of the site tomorrow morning,” said Mikayla Ortega, a spokesperson for the city.

Ortega urged the public to stay away from the area due to concerns about the building’s instability.

The building and bordering streets were lined with yellow caution tape Tuesday afternoon, and winds swept the remaining dust and debris into the air.

But the aftermath of the city’s determination won’t solely affect Lindy’s Diner.

Flamenco Works — a local nonprofit flamenco school that shares a wall with Lindy’s Diner — was closed Tuesday afternoon.

Directors Jesús and Amalyah Muñoz said they were out of town at a Utah dance competition when the collapse happened. They learned of the news from social media videos and were devastated when they came back to Albuquerque and saw the rubble near their building.

“Our kids rely on our classes, so we’re trying to find another place,” Amalyah Muñoz said. “We can’t afford to shut down and the kids depend on us.”

The two said they were hoping to find another location to temporarily house their classes — which run through May — along with a June summer camp that is expected to have at least 30 children in attendance.

505 Central Food Hall owner Mark Baker said his business faces economic uncertainty after some roads were closed for debris. Fifth Street between Gold and Copper was closed to traffic Tuesday.

“It’s made it more difficult for people to find their way to 505 Central Food Hall, so hopefully the reconstruction or demolition happens quickly and decisively and we don’t end up in this economic limbo for much longer,” Baker said.

Baker said he’s worried that indecisiveness from the city could prolong the situation, even as local curiosity-seekers visited the food hall to see the Lindy’s Diner scene at 500 Central SW.

Though Vatoseow was disheartened to see the building fall into shambles, he said the amount of love Lindy’s Diner has received from the public was heartwarming.

“That’s been the one bright spot,” he said. “Just to see what that place meant to a lot of people is really heartwarming, and it means a lot to us. It’s everyday people that came in and supported us, and those are the ones we’re going to miss the most if we can’t do something to bring it back.”

As passersby took photos and videos of the building Tuesday afternoon, a lone brick plummeted to the street, adding to the growing pile of wreckage that was contained by fencing placed by city officials.

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.