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Grants, New Mexico: Uranium Cafe (Gone)

Restaurant with radioactive sign and theme. Reported in 2014 to have sloughed off the last of its atomic tourism skin; no trace of the theme in 2024.

Directions:
I-40 exits 81 or 81B. Drive north to Santa Fe Ave (old Route 66) and turn right. Drive around a half-mile and the Cafe will be on the right, across the street from a small park.
Status:
Gone

Visitor Tips and News About Uranium Cafe

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Uranium Cafe

Unfortunately, the neon is gone, as is any reference to Uranium. The cafe, which is now signed Badland Burgers, was open and the burgers good... but what I really wanted was the Uranium Cafe neon. I did get a side of plutonium, though.

[Frishcakes, 05/08/2014]

Uranium Cafe.

Uranium Cafe

We went looking for the old Uranium Cafe yesterday and discovered that the address is actually 519 W. Santa Fe Ave. The original Uranium Cafe sign is still up on the building, but the building is now Badland's Burgers. While there, we decided to try some of their breakfast burritos. We later learned that their Badland Burger was the 2009 winner of New Mexico's Best Green Chili Cheeseburger in the Governor's Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge.

[Gary Epperson, 10/11/2012]

The Green Chili Cheeseburger title is relished in New Mexico, as we learned when we visited Teako Nunn over at Sparky's Burgers in Hatch. Teako decorates his restaurant with roadside statues, but the new owners of the Uranium Cafe seem oblivious to its eye-popping potential.

Uranium Cafe.

Uranium Cafe

I was at the Uranium Cafe on April 21, and this sign was still there. I don't know if it is the original sign or not, but it was there.

[pam, 08/24/2012]

Like its element namesake, the Uranium Cafe appears to be unstable; some visitors find it closed, others open, some find its sign gone, others don't.

Uranium Cafe - Sign Gone

Sadly, the original sign is no longer up. Also, this restaurant (like most of the other ones in town) is closed on Sundays.

[Callie M., 04/16/2012]

Uranium Cafe sign vestiges.

Uranium Cafe

The Uranium Cafe has had a facelift and appears to be open under the name "Nana's Home Cooking" on the West-side sign, although the owners have retained the Uranium Cafe neon sign on the East side. We were there early in the morning, so could not confirm that the cafe is active, but it looks well-kept on the outside.

[Wm Breiland, 08/01/2011]

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