The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is owned and operated by the Pueblo tribal nations. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

For Immediate Release:

THE INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER ANNOUNCES PLANS TO REOPEN MUSEUM, RESTAURANT, GIFT SHOP AND COURTYARD ON APRIL 8, 2021

ALL IPCC CAMPUS BUSINESSES DESIGNATED AS “NM SAFE CERTIFIED” AND WILL ENSURE HEIGHTENED SAFETY MEASURES FOR VISITORS AND EMPLOYEES

Albuquerque, NM (March 29, 2021)—The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC) is pleased to announce that, beginning April 8^th, the Center will reopen its doors and extend a warm welcome to the public. The museum, courtyard and Indian Pueblo Store hours of operation will be Thursday-Sunday from 9:00AM-4:00PM, with the last entry to the museum at 3:00PM. The Cultural Center’s newly reimagined restaurant, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen, will be open for breakfast and lunch Thursday-Sunday from 8:00AM-2:00PM, with dine-in and patio seating available.

All IPCC Campus businesses (including the Cultural Center) have earned the “NM Safe Certified” seal, a designation from the State of New Mexico. This means that, in accordance with the Governor’s public health ordinance, all IPCC Campus businesses have completed training and prioritized the implementation of COVID-Safe Practices that will ensure heightened safety measures for visitors and employees while on the IPCC Campus. This includes, but is not limited to, mandated limited capacity operations; online ticketing with timed entry into the museum; face masks worn over the mouth and nose by all visitors and staff; maintenance of 6-ft. social distancing; access to hand sanitization stations; designated entry and exit points with one-way directional paths at the Cultural Center; and frequent and enhanced cleaning of public spaces.

In making the announcement, Mike Canfield, President and CEO of IPCC/IPMI (Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc.), said, “We are thrilled to reopen our doors and welcome the public back with in-person cultural, shopping and dining experiences. Guests will, once again, be able enjoy the museum, our courtyard with works by Native artists and artisans, the Indian Pueblo Store and our newly reimagined restaurant, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen.” Canfield added, “Though our hours and operations will be a little different, we are committed to providing a safe, enjoyable experience for members of our Pueblos, New Mexico residents and visitors.”

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is owned and operated by the Pueblo tribal nations. Photo courtesy IPCC

“People are eager to partake in the unique cultural experiences that only IPCC can offer,” said Dr. Beverlee J. McClure, IPCC/IPMI Vice President of Cultural and Community Engagement. “We are truly grateful for the public’s support over the past year, as many have enjoyed our virtual programming and have contributed to the Pueblo Relief Fund, our joint initiative with the All Pueblo Council of Governors. We are excited that we can now re-engage with everyone in person and invite guests to experience our famous Pueblo hospitality by visiting our museum, dining in our Indigenous restaurant and shopping for authentic Native American art and wares in our gift shop and in our beautiful, mural-lined courtyard—all in a safe and welcoming environment.”  

During its closure, IPCC has reimagined its popular restaurant as the Indian Pueblo Kitchen and plans for it to be part of the overall cultural experience when guests visit the Center. The Indian Pueblo Kitchen will introduce an updated menu that includes old favorites and exciting new creations—using fresh, Indigenous foods and recipes by renowned Executive Chef, Ray Naranjo (the Santa Clara Pueblo, Odawa). The restaurant will be serving breakfast and lunch, offering an innovative variety of Indigenous and contemporary dishes and dining options. This includes Chef Ray’s take on everything from brunch, salads and burgers to Pueblo and New Mexican favorites, contemporary Indigenous entrées and a Pueblo Feast Day Experience. Also available will be the restaurant’s famous baked goods, including Pueblo pies and cookies—as well as fresh baked oven bread. Guests will be welcome to dine in or enjoy the patio with a view of the beautiful Sandia Mountains. Convenient curbside pick-up will also be available.

In the coming months, IPCC’s restaurant will also become a teaching kitchen and will offer culinary experiences such as cooking classes, wine pairing dinners, Feast Day meals and farm-to-fork dining.

Chef Ray Naranjo also expressed his enthusiasm for reopening the restaurant, saying, “We look forward to sharing the menu for our exciting new dining concept. With unique, Pueblo inspired dishes and our famous hospitality, we will offer a cultural and culinary experience that customers can’t find anywhere but at IPCC.”

Over the past year, IPCC converted many of its educational and cultural programs to virtual events and enjoyed significant interest, engagement and participation in these digital offerings by the public. To continue making them as widely available as possible, the Cultural Center plans to continue many of these programs as virtual events or as hybrid programming, with both in-person and online components.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is owned and operated by the Pueblo tribal nations. Photo courtesy IPCC

Since its physical closure, the Indian Pueblo Store continued to offer authentic Native American art and goods via its website, www.indianpueblostore.com  And, in anticipation of reopening the restaurant, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen introduced Chef Ray Naranjo’s monthly Pante Project Indigenous Food Experience in November. These unique, pre-prepared dinners with curbside pick-up include access to a video of Chef Ray in which he shows how the meal was prepared and explains the cultural meaning of the food. The Pante Project has proven to be very popular and is a fun new way for the restaurant to reconnect with customers who have missed having a unique, Pueblo-inspired dining experience. As a result, IPCC leadership is currently considering extending the Pante Project events beyond the Indian Pueblo Kitchen’s reopening and will provide an update soon.

Additional IPCC Campus businesses are already open to the public, in compliance with public health orders. These include: Four Winds convenience store; Starbucks at Avanyu Plaza; the Holiday Inn Express Albuquerque Old Town and TownePlace Suites by Marriott Albuquerque Old Town; Laguna Burger; Sixty-Six Acres; and Domino’s.

IPCC is announcing the Cultural Center’s reopening by kicking off a vibrant, multi-media campaign, utilizing the hashtag, #ItAllStartsHere. The premise of this initiative is that Pueblo people started many of the iconic, Southwestern art forms that people love about New Mexico:  architecture, art, fashion, food and more. A visit to IPCC will start a visitor’s journey toward a deeper understanding of Pueblo people and culture through the Cultural Center’s unique exhibits, art, cultural programs, museum store and acclaimed Indigenous restaurant.

For more information about IPCC’s COVID Safe Practices and reopening plans, check the Cultural Center’s Visitor Information page:  www.indianpueblo.org/welcome  

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About the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center:

Founded in 1976 by the 19 Pueblo tribes of New Mexico, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a world-class museum and cultural center located in the historic 19 Pueblos District. The IPCC’s mission is to preserve and perpetuate Pueblo culture, and to advance understanding by presenting with dignity and respect the accomplishments and evolving history of the Pueblo peoples of New Mexico. The Center is temporarily closed until early April, 2021 due to the pandemic but, under normal circumstances, visitors can learn fascinating history, shop for Native jewelry and art, watch a cultural dance, hear Native languages and experience the flavors of traditional and contemporary Native cuisine. To learn more, please visit:www.indianpueblo.org and www.facebook.com/IndianPueblo We update these pages immediately anytime there is a change to the Center’s status and hours.

About Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc.

Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc. (IPMI) was founded by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico to provide economic opportunities for Pueblo and Native American artists, as well as employment and career development opportunities for Pueblo people. IPMI is a for-profit umbrella that includes a premier Native American arts store and website, meeting and banquet space, Four Winds convenience store, the largest Starbucks in New Mexico, the top-rated Holiday Inn Express in Albuquerque, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Albuquerque Old Town, Extra Space Storage and more that support our Pueblo culture and communities.