Blake's Lotaburger unveils restaurant redesign

FARMINGTON — The Blake's Lotaburger restaurant chain will unveil a new design with the opening of its 75th restaurant Saturday in Farmington.

The new design for the Albuquerque-based company will incorporate a more modern look while honoring its New Mexico heritage. Ron Rule, CEO/owner of Blake's Lotaburger, said the company was looking to develop a more modern image with its locations.

"I think it's a sign that we are investing as much in our interiors as our food," said Lannie Rule-Ziemann, company director of media relations and Ron's daughter.

Lucy Rosen, director of marketing, said an increase in demand for Blake's Lotaburger has led the company to pursue the new design style to accommodate more customers.

The building differs from most Blake's Lotaburger locations, focusing on a dining room that seats 58 people with booths, and tables and chairs.

It's a dramatic difference from the older locations that feature a small indoor lobby and counter seating. The redesign was developed by Modulus Architects of Albuquerque and uses earth-tone colors, hanging lights and wall art in the interior to create an upscale look.

Elevated seating and tables line the walls of the dining room. Power outlets with USB ports have been installed at those tables to allow customers to charge their laptops or smartphones.

More: New Farmington Blake's Lotaburger opens Saturday

Rule-Ziemann said the company is trying to appeal to the current generation of customers. That led them to install two communal tables that seat 10 customers each and a double drive-thru.

"I feel like we're just evolving with the times," Rule-Ziemann said.

The wooden communal tables and lighting fixtures in the dining room are adorned with the New Mexico Zia symbol. Including the Zia symbol in the design was an effort by the company to tie into its 65-year heritage in the state, according to Rule-Ziemann.

Three Lotaburger locations that are under development in Albuquerque will feature the new design style. And a Bernalillo location is being torn down and relocated to a different part of the city, where a new structure will be built, Rosen said.

Rosen also said many of the existing locations companywide could be receiving updates based on the new design style.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627.