Author
City officials ordered an emergency closure of Lindy’s restaurant, a Downtown staple, on Monday after public complaints about the building’s bulging exterior prompted city officials to order a structural inspection.
Owners say that the location is one of the longest continually-operated restaurant locations on Route 66. For 97-years, restaurants operating out of the the Bliss Building at 500 Central Ave SW have served up countless cups of coffee and enchiladas for city hall politicians, downtown business patrons and late night partiers. Originally the Coney Island Cafe, the location now known as Lindy’s Diner has also served as the backdrop for the first episode of Better Call Saul and a half-dozen other films and television shows.
Owners Steve and Dawn Vatoseow listed the building and restaurant business for sale in 2024 for just over $1.2 million but could not find a buyer. Earlier this month, they relisted it for $1.3 million.
Now, a city spokesperson says city inspectors responding to concerns that the 103-year old building was bulging determined the building may be in danger of falling onto the street.
At the time of investigation hazard conditions were found due to years of neglect and lack of maintenance. The Northeast exterior wall is in hazard of collapse into the public right away. The lateral supports have been severely compromised, and now the roof and the second floor are sagging and is in hazard of collapse. Structural supports were installed in 1995 however, those applications are starting to fail as the exterior wall is leaning further out into the public right away.
Citation from City of Albuquerque building inspectors documenting dangerous conditions at Lindy’s Diner Downtown (Apr. 20, 2026, CABQ)
The city gave the owners until May 4th to hire a structural engineer to evaluate the condition of the Route 66 landmark.