Rio Rancho officials break ground for new grocery store

RIO RANCHO, N.M. – The empty lot across from Presbyterian Rust Campus in Rio Rancho is going to look a lot different in a few years. 

Known as the Unser gateway, the area serves both Rio Rancho and northern Albuquerque. In the last few years people have seen a few new shops and restaurants pop up, but soon there will be a boom in construction. 

On Wednesday, city officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the first new tenant moving in to the “Villlage at Rio Rancho,” which will be a grocery store.

“We needed this type of developments in Rio Rancho to attract business from the Albuquerque area into the Rio Rancho area,” Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull said. 

The new grocery store will be a “Market Street” – a high-end grocery store operated by Albertson’s Market. This chain is new to the metro but has one New Mexico location up in Santa Fe. 

This new store will bring more than just new shopping options it will also bring in jobs. 

“We are going to add roughly 300 new jobs to Rio Rancho at this location right here so we are excited to give back to the community,” President of United Family, the operators of Albertson’s and Market Street. 

And with more jobs comes more commerce in Rio Rancho, rather than down the hill. 

“One thing we have always struggled with in Rio Rancho is what we call retail leakage, just people spending their money in Albuquerque rather than here in Rio Rancho and this will go a long way to keeping Rio Rancho residents in Rio Rancho,” Hull said. 

Market Street is expected to open their doors in fall 2023.