ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — City inspectors placed a red tag on Lindy’s Diner downtown Monday afternoon, ordering the longtime restaurant closed after a follow-up inspection turned up multiple code violations in the more than 100-year-old structure.

The issue surfaced after a member of the public flagged what appeared to be a bowing exterior wall about a month ago. That tip prompted city staff to visit the property; officials say that first visit only assessed visible, exterior conditions and did not uncover structural problems at the time.

Concerns over the building

City officials returned on April 20 after receiving 311 reports about the building’s condition and following an additional inspection the previous week. During the most recent inspection, code enforcement investigators identified violations of the Uniform Housing Code, the Integrated Development Ordinance and the Uniform Administrative Code.

Those violations were considered serious enough to prompt an Emergency Vacate Order, meaning the diner must remain closed until the deficiencies are corrected and the building is deemed safe for occupancy. The owners say multiple inspections have taken place in recent days and that this morning’s examination involved a larger team and a drone to evaluate the property more thoroughly.

What changed and next steps

City officials explained that the earlier inspection focused on exterior, visible conditions and did not provide sufficient evidence to close the business at that time. For the follow-up, code enforcement staff conducted additional background research and a more comprehensive assessment, which revealed conditions warranting the emergency order.

Alan Varela, director of the city’s Planning Department, noted that many older buildings are valued local landmarks and expressed hope that the owner will act quickly to address the issues and preserve the structure. Until repairs and any required permits are in place and inspectors lift the vacate order, the diner will remain shuttered.