A longtime gallery in Old Town Albuquerque is facing the end of an era after property owners decided to not renew its lease.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A longtime gallery in Old Town Albuquerque is facing the end of an era after property owners decided to not renew its lease.
The artists who run the Amapola Co-Op Gallery told KOB they found out last month that the new owners of the building decided not to renew their lease. That means they have to move out at the end of January.
“The property manager just came in and said there would be a new owner to the building and that our lease would not be renewed,” gallery co-director Brenda Bowman said.
This isn’t the first time the gallery has moved locations – and directors said they’re treating this as an opportunity.
“We would love to stay on the Plaza,” Bowman said. “If you know of a place that you think would be good for us, please let us know. We’ll check it out.”
The gallery will stay open until their lease ends, continuing “business as usual.”
“We’re committed to being Amapola Gallery and to being a success wherever we are,” artist Mary Ellen Merrigan said.
Merrigan is one of the nearly 40 artists who showcase and sell their creations at the gallery. Managers said they moved in about 20 years ago.
We reached out to the new owner to see why they didn’t renew the lease and what they plan to do next. We haven’t heard back yet.
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