A one-time garage and auto repair shop in downtown Albuquerque is about to be repurposed.
The Ex Novo Brewing company, which is based in Portland, Oregon, plans to renovate and upgrade a building located at Seventh Street and Central Avenue that was once the home to a Firestone Complete Auto Care location.
That 11,600 square-foot garage, which opened for business in the early 1930s, was long considered a Route 66 landmark with its Art Deco exterior design. It was closed as an underperforming shop by the Firestone chain in early 2020.
Now, Ex Novo plans to modernize the structure for the purpose of turning it into a full-service taproom and restaurant. According to plans, the front lot of the former Firestone garage will be turned into a patio featuring a bar, café, and beer garden.
Some $75,000 in funding for the work is coming through the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency’s Storefront Activation Grant program, which is tasked with supporting businesses and reducing vacant commercial spaces in downtown Albuquerque.
Launched in Portland in 2014, Ex Novo opened a new location in Corrales in 2019.
By Garry Boulard
