Operation Cold Storage: The Brewery That Refused to Retreat

The Southwestern Brewery and Ice Company maintains its position right next to the BNSF railroad tracks in East Downtown Albuquerque. This 1899 heavy hitter is essentially a veteran of the industrial front. It stands as one of the only 19th-century commercial structures still holding the line in the area.

The Rankins established this base of operations in 1888 before the Loebs took command of the mission. By the turn of the century, the outfit became a regional powerhouse. They pushed the Glorieta beer brand across the entire Southwest like a tactical supply line.

When Prohibition hit in 1917, the company refused to surrender. They performed a strategic pivot by ditching the brewing business and keeping the ice production active. While the facility swapped commanders starting in 1948, it stayed in the ice game for most of the 20th century before finally closing the books in 1997.

The state officially recognized its historical value in 1975, with the National Register following suit in 1978. A 1998 fire took out the south side cold storage and gave the main brewery a scorched look. Nevertheless, the main structure is still standing at attention.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons