In-N-Out Is Coming to Albuquerque: 3 Sites, a 2027 Target and the Jobs Ahead

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — New Mexico has waited three years for In-N-Out, and the paperwork is finally piling up. The California burger chain holds building permits for two Albuquerque restaurants, one on Coors Boulevard NW and one on Gibson Boulevard near Interstate 25, and has an approved site plan for a third at Cottonwood Mall. Permit documents point to a June 2027 finish on one of the first locations. For anyone hoping to land a job at a famously popular chain, that means the clock has started.

No shovels in the ground yet and no hiring announced, but three In-N-Out restaurants are lined up for Albuquerque. Here's what is confirmed and how to be ready when the postings go up.

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📍 Business at a Glance

Business	In-N-Out Burger, first New Mexico restaurants
Opening	Targeted for 2027; permit documents show a June 2027 construction finish on one site
Sites	3811 Coors NW (Oxbow Center); Gibson Blvd. just west of the fire station near I-25; Dillard's parking lot at Cottonwood Mall
Size	Coors about 5,716 sq. ft.; Gibson about 3,886 sq. ft.; Cottonwood about 3,887 sq. ft. with a patio. All three include a drive-thru.
Status	Building permits issued for Coors and Gibson; Cottonwood site plan approved; construction not yet started
Industry	Quick-service restaurant
New jobs	Not announced

Where In-N-Out Is Building in Albuquerque

In-N-Out first said in 2023 that it would expand into New Mexico, with Albuquerque restaurants targeted for 2027. Three sites have since come into focus, according to Albuquerque Journal reporting built on city permit filings.

Two sit on the West Side. The largest, at roughly 5,716 square feet, is planned for an empty lot in the Oxbow Center at 3811 Coors NW. The other would take a slice of the Dillard's parking lot at Cottonwood Mall, where a site plan amendment carves out about an acre and a half for a restaurant with a drive-thru and an outdoor patio.

The third is on the other side of the river, on Gibson Boulevard just west of the fire station near I-25, inside the University of New Mexico's South Campus development district near the stadiums. That site does not have a street address yet. The Journal's sources say Coors and Gibson are meant to open first, at roughly the same time.

The 2027 Timeline, Honestly

Permits are not construction. As of early November, none of the three sites had work underway, and a company spokesperson said in late October there were no updates to share on a start date. In-N-Out's real estate team has said a restaurant typically takes about nine months to build and open, so the June 2027 target in the permit documents already looks tight.

Company president Lynsi Snyder sounded confident anyway, telling the Journal that New Mexico has been waiting and "it will be soon."

The chain has pushed back on rumors before: in the spring it called an Instagram claim of a Christmas 2026 opening inaccurate.

💼 What This Means for Job Seekers

In-N-Out has not announced how many people it will hire here, what it will pay, or when applications open, and we won't guess at a headcount. What is certain: three drive-thru restaurants need full crews, hired and trained before the doors open.

The company's employment page lists restaurant associate jobs and promotes higher starting wages, paid vacations, flexible schedules and room to grow. It does not post dollar figures, and no New Mexico openings appear there yet. Bookmark it.

Meanwhile, a few months of crew or drive-thru experience will make you a stronger candidate when interviews start. Starting pay depends partly on where the restaurant sits: the address where you work sets the legal floor, not where you live.

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How to Get Ready Before the Postings Go Up

Build quick-service experience now. Drive-thru speed, cash handling and working a rush are exactly what a new crew needs.
Know which site is closest. Coors NW and Cottonwood serve the West Side and Rio Rancho side of town; Gibson is closer to the university, the airport and the South Valley.
Apply only through In-N-Out's own employment site. Ignore rumor posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will In-N-Out open in Albuquerque?

The company has targeted 2027. Permit documents show a June 2027 construction finish on one of the first sites, but construction had not started as of early November 2026.

Where are the Albuquerque In-N-Out locations?

Three sites are planned: 3811 Coors NW in the Oxbow Center, Gibson Boulevard just west of the fire station near I-25, and the Dillard's parking lot at Cottonwood Mall.

Is In-N-Out hiring in Albuquerque?

Not yet. No hiring announcement, headcount or application date has been made. Get your resume ready and watch for postings on the company's employment page.

What does In-N-Out pay in Albuquerque?

No Albuquerque pay has been published. The company advertises higher starting wages and paid vacations for restaurant associates but does not list dollar amounts.

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