After more than a decade of serving up bright, all-natural paletas and comfort-food favorites, Pop Fizz has announced it is closing for good.
In a heartfelt message to the Albuquerque community, the owners shared what so many local businesses struggle to say: “Sometimes, good things must come to an end.” What followed was less of a business announcement and more of a love letter — to families, to loyal customers, to downtown markets, to food truck events, and to a city that embraced them from the beginning.
From their early days at the Downtown Growers’ Market and Tasty Tuesdays ABQ, to their brick-and-mortar presence near the Albuquerque Journal Theater along the Bosque, Pop Fizz became more than a paleta shop. It became part of weekend routines, bike rides, birthday parties, and summer afternoons.
A Decade of Sweet Memories
Founded in 2013, Pop Fizz built its name on organic, all-natural paletas — but locals remember much more than just popsicles.
Customers reminisced about:
Carne asada fries
Churros
Cubano sandwiches
Weekend stops after rides along the Riverside Trail
Watching their kids grow up in line for a treat
Even after closing their shop operations in 2020, the question never stopped: “When are you bringing back the carne asada fries?”
That kind of loyalty isn’t easy to earn.
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A Community Responds
The comment section tells the real story.
One longtime customer thanked them for bringing joy “from the old school location on Bridge and Isleta to the NHCC.” Another shared how weekend bike rides with small children always included a Pop Fizz stop — and how they hoped to relive those moments now that their kids are grown.
That’s the thing about neighborhood places. They quietly become bookmarks in our lives.
Pop Fizz’s message made it clear this is not a “see you later” post. It’s a full stop.
“The love we got from Albuquerque means more than anyone will ever know… It’s been real guys. We love you.”
The End of an Era in Albuquerque
Located at 1701 4th St SW, just steps from the Bosque and near the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Pop Fizz occupied a special pocket of the city — a crossroads of culture, community, and creativity.
For 13 years, they brought color, flavor, and a little fizz to Albuquerque summers.
Now, their paletas join the long list of local favorites that live on mostly in photos, stories, and cravings that never quite go away.
If you have a memory of Pop Fizz — a flavor you loved, a party they catered, a summer afternoon you still think about — share it below.
Some places close. But the moments they created stick around a little longer.
