Sushi Freak rolls into the Westside

By Ron Davis, Albuquerque Business First reporter  |  May 31, 2019

Sushi Freak is set to make its second move in the Duke City.

The San Diego-based sushi chain is planning for a new location on Albuquerque's Westside at the North Andalucia at La Luz shopping center, located at Coors Blvd. and Montaño Road. Sushi Freak has locations in Albuquerque Uptown, El Paso, Texas, as well as San Diego and has two proposed locations on the Westside and in Las Cruces, according to its website.

The Westside location is set to open later this summer. City permits show Sushi Freak will operate a 1,260-square-foot space at the shopping center with Albuquerque-based Master Homecrafters Inc. listed as the building contractor.

Business First reported on Sushi Freak announcing its arrival in Albuquerque in September 2015, bringing a concept called the "sushi burrito" — basically, a giant sushi roll that's been rolled up burrito-style.

NAI Maestas & Ward's Thalia Toha represented Sushi Freak in the transaction. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Toha called the Coors and Montaño intersection attractive for most restaurants with major developments around the area. Sushi Freak is set to join retailers such as Sprouts, PetSmart and Great Clips. Business First reported on Colorado-based Grassburger opening a nearly 2,500-square-foot restaurant in April and Which Wich opening a 1,400-square-foot space at the shopping center in December. 

NAI Maestas & Ward Commercial Real Estate completed 443 commercial transactions in 2018 for a total commercial transactions value of $263.04 million. It ranked No. 2 on Business First's list of largest New Mexico commercial real estate firms.