Blake's Lotaburger
Encyclopedia
Blake's Lotaburger is a New Mexico
fast food
chain based in Albuquerque and consisting of more than 76 stores as of 2009.
All Lotaburger stores are company-owned. Blake's Lotaburger also owns the majority of the property that its stores are built on, and the stores themselves are built by the company construction division. Blake's owns and operates its own sheet metal shop, refrigeration shop, cabinet shop, vehicle shop, maintenance fleet, and commissary.
Despite some modernization, food is cooked to order, causing what is considered slow service in today's world.
, a native of Texas
who moved to Albuquerque after World War II
. With an initial investment of $5,300 USD, Chanslor opened a 230 square feet (21.4 m²) "Lota Burger" hamburger stand on July 9, 1952. It was located at the corner of San Mateo and Southern in southeast Albuquerque. The venture proved successful, and Chanslor opened two more stores in 1953.
Since then, Lotaburger has expanded across New Mexico with locations in 23 cities. Albuquerque still contains the greatest number of Lotaburger stores, with a total of 35. As of 2009 they have 76 stores in total so far in the chain. Chanslor remained the owner of the chain until 2003, when he sold his interest in the venture to the father-and-son team of Ronald C. Rule and Brian Rule. The restaurants are now known as Blake’s Lotaburger.
During the 1990s, most Lotaburger television advertisements featured the Ernest P. Worrell
character, played by Jim Varney
. The oldest active Lotaburger is Store #2 in Albuquerque, which dates to 1953. The original Blake's stand on San Mateo is still in existence but no longer houses a Lotaburger.
Many give credit to Blake’s Lotaburger for introducing green chiles to the hamburger. In the early years the owners at Blake’s noticed that people used to come in and order their hamburgers and then put their own green chilies on them. They said that they “finally caught on and decided to go with it”. As one of the first to “catch on” hamburgers at Blake’s quickly became a hit and today Blake’s has been recognized by National Geographic for the “Best Green Chile Cheeseburger in the World".
Green Chile is served on Blake’s hamburgers if requested and is an “added extra” to any of the menu items. A special green and red sauce are made from New Mexico Green Chile and can be added to the Breakfast Burritos. Green Chile is perhaps the defining ingredient of New Mexican food compared to neighboring styles.
Blake's Lotaburger is a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics in New Mexico.
In 2008, Rule donated $10,000 to support Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California. Boycotts of the restaurant by gay marriage activists were planned.
In 2009, Blake's Lotaburger was named for "Best Burger" and "Best French Fries" in the Weekly Alibi.
The New Mexico Tourism Department features Blake’s Lotaburger as one of the state's destinations on the Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail.
Blake's was featured among flavorful hot spots for green chili cheeseburgers in the Las Cruces Sun–News.
Lotatrouble Burger Pit Stop Lands Rail Runner Workers in Hot Water.
Blake's celebrates 58th birthday as thousands waited in line Friday to get a free original Blake's Lotaburger Combo — a burger, bag of chips and a drink — at the original location.
Blake’s Lotaburger was invited to provide Lotaburger Combo Meals to the Petry family as their family gathered together for a home town welcome. On July 12th President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, a Santa Fe New Mexico native. Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry is one of two living recipients of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. The State Parade honoring Sargent Petry started at 11:45 August 1st in Santa Fe, NM. The State Police had reserved 3 metered spaces next to the Federal Building for the Blake’s Catering Truck. KOAT 7 News included Blake's Lotaburger on the following news shows: 8/1 at 5pm, 6pm, 10pm and 8/2 at 5am, 5:30, 6am. 6:30am.
Blake's Lotaburger takes top honors in Albuquerque the Magazine September 2011 issue. The article starts out "It may take a minute or two to get a Blake's Breakfast Burrito but that's because cooks don't start making it until you order it" ( p 138).
Some Lotaburger stores also have a breakfast menu which includes breakfast sandwiches and several types of breakfast burrito. Fresh eggs are used in the breakfast sandwiches and the burritos and the customer can choose between Blake’s special red or green sauce.
Blake’s full menu is available for onsite catering events. In addition to the regular menu, Blake’s Lotaburger catering offers fruit platters, scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes or just about anything the customer requests. All of the food is made onsite (Breakfast burritos can be pre-made if requested).
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
chain based in Albuquerque and consisting of more than 76 stores as of 2009.
All Lotaburger stores are company-owned. Blake's Lotaburger also owns the majority of the property that its stores are built on, and the stores themselves are built by the company construction division. Blake's owns and operates its own sheet metal shop, refrigeration shop, cabinet shop, vehicle shop, maintenance fleet, and commissary.
Despite some modernization, food is cooked to order, causing what is considered slow service in today's world.
History
Blake's Lotaburger was founded by Blake ChanslorBlake Chanslor
G. Blake Chanslor was an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Blake's Lotaburger restaurant chain in 1952. Blake's Lotaburger is based in New Mexico....
, a native of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
who moved to Albuquerque after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. With an initial investment of $5,300 USD, Chanslor opened a 230 square feet (21.4 m²) "Lota Burger" hamburger stand on July 9, 1952. It was located at the corner of San Mateo and Southern in southeast Albuquerque. The venture proved successful, and Chanslor opened two more stores in 1953.
Since then, Lotaburger has expanded across New Mexico with locations in 23 cities. Albuquerque still contains the greatest number of Lotaburger stores, with a total of 35. As of 2009 they have 76 stores in total so far in the chain. Chanslor remained the owner of the chain until 2003, when he sold his interest in the venture to the father-and-son team of Ronald C. Rule and Brian Rule. The restaurants are now known as Blake’s Lotaburger.
During the 1990s, most Lotaburger television advertisements featured the Ernest P. Worrell
Ernest P. Worrell
Ernest P. Worrell is a fictional character most principally portrayed by the late American actor Jim Varney in a series of television commercials, and later in a television series as well as a series of feature films. Ernest was created by the Nashville advertising agency Carden and Cherry and was...
character, played by Jim Varney
Jim Varney
James Albert "Jim" Varney, Jr. was an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, writer, voice artist, and comedian, best known for his role as Ernest P...
. The oldest active Lotaburger is Store #2 in Albuquerque, which dates to 1953. The original Blake's stand on San Mateo is still in existence but no longer houses a Lotaburger.
Many give credit to Blake’s Lotaburger for introducing green chiles to the hamburger. In the early years the owners at Blake’s noticed that people used to come in and order their hamburgers and then put their own green chilies on them. They said that they “finally caught on and decided to go with it”. As one of the first to “catch on” hamburgers at Blake’s quickly became a hit and today Blake’s has been recognized by National Geographic for the “Best Green Chile Cheeseburger in the World".
Green Chile is served on Blake’s hamburgers if requested and is an “added extra” to any of the menu items. A special green and red sauce are made from New Mexico Green Chile and can be added to the Breakfast Burritos. Green Chile is perhaps the defining ingredient of New Mexican food compared to neighboring styles.
Blake's Lotaburger is a long-time supporter of the Special Olympics in New Mexico.
In 2008, Rule donated $10,000 to support Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California. Boycotts of the restaurant by gay marriage activists were planned.
In 2009, Blake's Lotaburger was named for "Best Burger" and "Best French Fries" in the Weekly Alibi.
The New Mexico Tourism Department features Blake’s Lotaburger as one of the state's destinations on the Green Chili Cheeseburger Trail.
Blake's was featured among flavorful hot spots for green chili cheeseburgers in the Las Cruces Sun–News.
Lotatrouble Burger Pit Stop Lands Rail Runner Workers in Hot Water.
Blake's celebrates 58th birthday as thousands waited in line Friday to get a free original Blake's Lotaburger Combo — a burger, bag of chips and a drink — at the original location.
Blake’s Lotaburger was invited to provide Lotaburger Combo Meals to the Petry family as their family gathered together for a home town welcome. On July 12th President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, a Santa Fe New Mexico native. Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry is one of two living recipients of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. The State Parade honoring Sargent Petry started at 11:45 August 1st in Santa Fe, NM. The State Police had reserved 3 metered spaces next to the Federal Building for the Blake’s Catering Truck. KOAT 7 News included Blake's Lotaburger on the following news shows: 8/1 at 5pm, 6pm, 10pm and 8/2 at 5am, 5:30, 6am. 6:30am.
Blake's Lotaburger takes top honors in Albuquerque the Magazine September 2011 issue. The article starts out "It may take a minute or two to get a Blake's Breakfast Burrito but that's because cooks don't start making it until you order it" ( p 138).
Menu
Blake's signature menu item is the Lotaburger, which is especially popular with cheese and green chile added. Other offerings include the smaller Itsaburger as well as hot dogs and corn dogs, cheese dog, chili dog, cheese chili dog, chili bowls and chili pie. Sandwiches include breaded chicken, turkey breast, barbecue beef and Halibut fish. Also offered are chicken tenders with barbecue sauce or ranch dressing, fries, seasoned fry, chili cheese fry, onion rings, and milkshakes. Brownies were recently added.Some Lotaburger stores also have a breakfast menu which includes breakfast sandwiches and several types of breakfast burrito. Fresh eggs are used in the breakfast sandwiches and the burritos and the customer can choose between Blake’s special red or green sauce.
Blake’s full menu is available for onsite catering events. In addition to the regular menu, Blake’s Lotaburger catering offers fruit platters, scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes or just about anything the customer requests. All of the food is made onsite (Breakfast burritos can be pre-made if requested).