A Complete Guide to Score420’s Central Avenue Historic Heart Stop

Location: Score420 Old Town · 2125 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 · (505) 200-9911

What to see, what to know, and why the Old Town stretch of Central Avenue is where 300 years of New Mexico history meet 100 years of Route 66.

If you only make one stop on Route 66 in Albuquerque, make it this one.

Score420 Old Town sits on Central Avenue in the heart of the city’s oldest neighborhood — literally the oldest, since San Felipe de Neri Church across the street is the oldest building in Albuquerque, founded in 1706. Around you is a district where Native American, Spanish colonial, Mexican, and American history all layer on top of each other, and where the Route 66 story just adds another century to a place that’s been welcoming travelers for 300+ years.

Old Town is walkable. Old Town is photogenic. Old Town has more than 100 independent shops and 24 galleries in a few square blocks. And Old Town has the KiMo Theatre — one of the most photographed buildings on the entire New Mexico stretch of Route 66.

Here’s how to experience it right.

The history: Old Town and Central Avenue

Old Town Albuquerque was founded in 1706 as the villa of San Felipe de Alburquerque (the extra “r” got lost somewhere), making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited European settlements in what’s now the United States. For 200+ years before Route 66 was commissioned, Old Town was already a stopping point for travelers along the Camino Real — the Spanish colonial road connecting Mexico City to Santa Fe.

When Route 66 was rerouted along Central Avenue in 1937, it ran right past Old Town. The neighborhood adapted the way it always had — welcoming travelers, feeding them, selling them things they needed, and telling them stories they’d remember. Some of the businesses along Central Avenue near Old Town predate Route 66 by decades. Others opened specifically to catch the Route 66 crowd. Almost all of them are still worth visiting.

The Central Avenue stretch through Old Town is where you get the full sweep of New Mexico time in one afternoon: pre-colonial, colonial, Route 66 era, and contemporary Albuquerque all in walking distance.

Can’t-miss stops in Old Town and along Central Avenue

The KiMo Theatre (423 Central Ave NW). Built in 1927, one year after Route 66 was commissioned. Pueblo Deco architecture — a genuine Southwestern art movement that combines Art Deco with Native American design motifs. The KiMo is one of the most photographed Route 66 buildings anywhere in America and one of the last surviving examples of Pueblo Deco theater architecture in the country. Book a tour in advance through the City of Albuquerque or just admire the exterior. When Route 66 events happen in ABQ, they often center on the KiMo.

Old Town Plaza and San Felipe de Neri Church. The plaza is the heart of the neighborhood. San Felipe de Neri Church (1706) is the oldest building in the city and still an active parish. The plaza itself hosts festivals throughout the year and is lined with restaurants, galleries, and independent shops. Come early morning for the light. Come at golden hour for photography. Come anytime for the atmosphere.

Old Town Shops and Galleries. More than 100 stores and 24 galleries pack into the Old Town district. Native American jewelry (particularly turquoise and silver work), New Mexican folk art, contemporary Southwestern art, hot sauce, Christmas ornaments (Old Town has multiple year-round Christmas stores), and independent bookshops all cluster within walking distance.

The Albuquerque Museum (2000 Mountain Rd NW). Excellent local history museum with strong Route 66 exhibits and rotating collections. Free on the first Wednesday of the month and third Sunday of the month.

Route 66 Diner (1405 Central Ave NE). Technically closer to Downtown than Old Town, but still an easy trip. Housed in the former Sam’s 66 Service station (a Phillips 66 gas station), converted in 1987 into a sock-hopping 1950s-inspired diner. Home to more than 700 Pez dispensers, a jukebox, an outdoor vintage sign gallery, and dozens of Betty Boop dolls. The milkshakes are the point.

El Vado Motel (2500 Central Ave SW). Just west of Old Town, El Vado is one of the best-restored auto courts in America. Built in 1937, meticulously restored in 2018, it now operates as a motel plus mixed-use property with food trucks, a taproom, and a public plaza. Even if you’re not staying, walk through — this is Route 66 preservation at its best.

The Route 66 Crossroads Information Station. At the intersection of 4th Street and Central Avenue, about a mile east of the Old Town Score420, is the only place on the entire 2,448-mile Route 66 where the highway crosses itself. There’s a neon-inspired “66” sculpture for photos and a Crossroads Information Station inside the Rosenwald Building with centennial swag, hand-painted murals, and Route 66 history. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 7 PM.

San Felipe de Neri Church Museum and Rectory Museum. Small, quiet, historically dense. Get here when the plaza gets crowded.

Where to eat

Church Street Cafe (2111 Church St NW) — Right off Old Town Plaza, housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city. Traditional New Mexican food in a historic adobe. Order sopaipillas.

High Noon Restaurant and Saloon (425 San Felipe St NW) — Southwestern menu in a historic building on Old Town Plaza. Solid choice for a nicer meal.

Frontier Restaurant (2400 Central Ave SE) — One of Albuquerque’s most iconic restaurants, serving New Mexican breakfast and green chile stew since 1971. Not in Old Town proper, but essential Route 66 dining. Come for the sweet rolls, stay for the green chile.

Route 66 Malt Shop (1720 Central Ave SE) — Same energy as Route 66 Diner but different vibe. Milkshakes done right.

Range Cafe (multiple locations, but the one you want is at 2200 Menaul Blvd NE) — Regional NM breakfast and lunch spot. Green chile everything.

Sadie’s of New Mexico (6132 4th St NW) — Not in Old Town but on 4th Street (the pre-1937 Route 66 alignment). Classic NM cuisine since the 1950s. Stuffed chile rellenos with sopaipillas drizzled in honey.

Where to stay

Hotel Chaco (2000 Bellamah Ave NW) — Upscale hotel walking distance from Old Town Plaza. Modern Southwestern design inspired by Chaco Canyon architecture. If you want a nicer Old Town-adjacent stay, this is it.

Los Poblanos Historic Inn (4803 Rio Grande Blvd NW) — Not technically Old Town, but the closest historic inn experience. Lavender fields, farm-to-table restaurant, working ranch on the pre-1937 Route 66 corridor. Book far ahead for centennial year.

Hotel Parq Central (806 Central Ave SE) — Boutique hotel in a beautiful mid-century building on Central Ave. Not Old Town, but close and historically appropriate.

El Vado Motel (2500 Central Ave SW) — The Route 66 purist choice. Restored 1937 auto court a short drive west of Old Town.

Multiple Old Town Airbnbs. The neighborhood has quality historic short-term rentals in adobe casitas.

The Score420 Old Town vibe

Our Old Town store at 2125 Central Ave NW puts you right on Route 66’s post-1937 alignment, minutes from Old Town Plaza, the ABQ Museum, and the KiMo Theatre. Locals treat this store as their neighborhood plug — friendly staff, good selection, and a location that’s genuinely convenient for anyone exploring the Old Town district.

This is one of our best stores for out-of-state Route 66 travelers because you can combine a cannabis stop with everything else you want to see in one afternoon. Park once, walk Old Town, hit the museum, catch the KiMo if there’s a show, grab dinner at Church Street Cafe or Frontier, and swing by Score420 either before or after depending on your plans for the evening.

What we recommend from the menu

For the Old Town stop specifically:

For the KiMo Theatre visit or an evening show: Something focused and clear-headed, since Pueblo Deco architecture rewards attention. A low-dose Oria live rosin gummy or a Cure Injoy microdose tincture taken 60-90 minutes before you head over lets you appreciate the architecture without getting lost in it. Save the heavier stuff for later.

For walking Old Town Plaza: A Spaced Cannabis Co. hybrid pre-roll — Orange Creamsicle, Rainbow Sherbet, or Cereal Milk pairs beautifully with the plaza atmosphere. Grab it in our 4-for-$20 mix-and-match deal. Consume in your legal accommodation before you head out.

For the museum visits (Albuquerque Museum, Rectory Museum): A microdose gummy or tincture. Museums reward the kind of calm attention that low-dose cannabis enables without pushing you into a state where you’re too distracted to read the placards.

For dinner at Church Street Cafe or Frontier: An edible taken 90 minutes before dinner puts you at a comfortable state for the meal and lets you enjoy sopaipillas properly. Joyibles works well for this timing. Dose according to your tolerance.

For the Old Town shopping spree: A Fligh vape pen makes for discreet pacing throughout the afternoon. Doesn’t require lighting, doesn’t smell, easy to control your intake.

For an end-of-day at your accommodation: Animas Cannabis indica flower or Urban Wellness pre-rolls. Both are NM local, both are reliable, both are the kind of end-of-day cannabis that lets you actually rest and be ready for the next stretch of your Route 66 exploration.

Route 66 Passport stamp

Score420 Old Town is Passport Stop #2 for east-to-west travelers, or a natural middle stop for anyone doing the full Central Avenue corridor. If you’re basing your Route 66 exploration in Albuquerque, Old Town is a strong home base neighborhood — dense with history, walkable, well-served by hotels, and just minutes from the crossroads where Route 66 crosses itself.

Bring your Passport in, get your stamp, and enjoy the neighborhood. Plan to spend at least a full day in Old Town — there’s more here than you can see in an afternoon.

Getting to Score420 Old Town

• From I-40: Take Exit 157A (Rio Grande Blvd). Head south to Central Ave. Turn east. We’re just past Rio Grande on the north side of Central.
• From I-25: Take Exit 224A (Central Ave). Head west. We’re on the north side of Central just past 20th Street.
• From Old Town Plaza: Head east on Central. We’re less than a mile away.
• From Nob Hill Score420: Head west on Central Ave through Downtown. About 15-20 minutes depending on traffic.
• Parking: Free parking on-site.
• Hours: Open until 11 PM most nights. Check locations page for current hours.

Old Town is where Route 66 in New Mexico feels most historically layered. Whether you’re stopping for KiMo photos, walking the plaza, doing the museums, or making Score420 Old Town part of your Passport tour — welcome to the historic heart of Albuquerque. Come see us.