Breaking Bad Filming Locations - Season 2

This post is the third of eight posts regarding "Breaking Bad" filming locations and focuses on Season 2 filming locations (last updated January 28, 2024).

The Blog Sidebar contains links to Filming Location posts.  These include:

• Eight "Breaking Bad" filming location posts;
• Four additional posts regarding "Breaking Bad" related subjects;
• Eight "Better Call Saul" filming location posts;
• Two additional posts regarding "Better Call Saul" related subjects;
• One additional post regarding Surrealist artistic influences in "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul";
• One post regarding "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie";
• Three links to OldeSaultie's Google maps of "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" filming location sites. These are the best filming location maps on the Web! The KML files available at these addresses are particularly useful for importing locations into GPS-equipped devices.

Let me know if you have any problems or questions (E-Mail address: valdezmarc56@gmail.com).

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To avoid unnecessary friction, I have redacted the addresses of all single-family homes in these books. (These addresses are still available at Marc Valdez Weblog, however.)  The pictures in the print editions are black-and-white, in order to keep costs down. 

"A Guidebook To 'Breaking Bad' Filming Locations: Including 'Better Call Saul' - Albuquerque as Physical Setting and Indispensable Character" (Sixth Edition)

Purchase book at the link.                                                                                                                   This book outlines thirty-three circuits that the avid fan can travel in order to visit up to 679 different filming locations for "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" in the Albuquerque area.  Some background is provided for each site, including other movies that might have also used the site for filming.

"‘Breaking Bad’ Signs and Symbols: Reading Meaning into Sets, Props, and Filming Locations” (Second Edition)

Purchase book at the link.                                                                                                        “‘Breaking Bad’ Signs and Symbols,” aims to understand some of the symbolism embedded in the backgrounds of “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” in order to decode messages and stories Vince Gilligan and crew have hidden there.                                                                                                    A series of tables are used to isolate how certain (particularly architectural) features are used: Gentle Arches, Tin Ceilings, Five-Pointed Stars, Octagons, etc. Daylighting innovations that were either pioneered or promoted in Chicago are examined: Glass Block Windows, Luxfer Prismatic Tile Windows, and Plate Glass Windows.

Certain symbols advance the plot: foreshadowing symbols like Pueblo Deco Arches, or danger symbols like bell shapes and stagger symbols. Other features, like Glass Block Windows or Parallel Beams in the Ceiling, tell stories about the legacies and corruptions of modernity, particularly those best-displayed at Chicago’s “Century of Progress” (1933-34). 

In addition, a number of scenes in the show are modeled after Early Surrealist artworks. The traces of various artists can be tracked in both shows, including: Comte de Lautréamont, Giorgio De Chirico, Man Ray, Max Ernst, Leonora Carrington, René Magritte, Toyen, Yves Tanguy, Remedios Varo, Paul Klee, and in particular, Salvador Dalí.

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Welcome To Albuquerque's Northeast Heights!

Garry Winogrand took this photo in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights in 1957. I feel a connection to this photo because I am almost precisely this kid's age. It expresses perfectly the time and place when my parents first put down roots.

This is just my way of welcoming Baby Holly into her bright, new world of Albuquerque's Northeast Heights.

Here is an interesting article about more-recent location hunting for this house.

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Season 2 Filming Locations


Northeast Heights (E. of Wyoming, W. of Juan Tabo, S. of Osuna)

Savoy Bar and Grill, 10601 Montgomery Blvd. NE.

(Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo') Walter and Gretchen meet for an argumentative lunch here.

Savoy Bar and Grill, 10601 Montgomery Blvd. NE.

(Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo') Walter and Gretchen meet for an argumentative lunch here.

Taco Sal, 9621 Menaul Blvd. NE.

(Season 2, episode 2, 'Grilled') Marie and Skyler hand out 'missing' fliers.

(Season 2, episode 10, 'Over') Walt tells Jesse that he's in remission.

(Season 3, episode 11, 'Abiquiu') Jesse, Andrea, and Brock eat dinner together.

Taco Sal, 9621 Menaul Blvd NE.

Taco Sal's interior.

Interesting traditional northern New Mexico metalwork on Taco Sal's mirror.

Taco Sal's (February 2020).

Search for Walt montage, Budget TV Repair, 9641 Menaul Blvd. NE (Season 2, episode 2, 'Grilled').

Marie and Skyler hand out "missing" fliers.

Budget TV Repair is adjacent to One-Eyed Jack Guitars, 9635 Menaul Blvd. NE, with its poster in the window advertising 'gold & diamond buyers'.

Search for Walt montage, El Mirasol, 9649 Menaul Blvd. NE (Season 2, episode 2, 'Grilled').

Marie and Skyler hand out "missing" fliers.

The area of El Mirasol looks considerably different these days.  Times have changed!

Bus Stop. Northwest corner of Eubank and Menaul Blvds. Search for Walt montage (Season 2, episode 2, 'Grilled').

The 'Search for Walt' montage features various residential locations (Season 2, episode 2, 'Grilled'). "OldeSaultie" indicates most of these locations are along Piermont Dr. NE.:

3800 Piermont Dr. NE Montage (House 1)
3726 Piermont Dr. NE Montage (House 2)
Just N. of San Gabriel & Piermont Leaflet grab from bicycle
About 3801 Piermont Dr. NE Montage (House 3)


Green Mask

One mystery, in the opening episode of Season 2 (“Breaking Bad,” Season 2, episode 1, ‘737’), is why Skyler chooses to coat her face with a bright-green mud mask.

The facial product appears to be a green-tea mud mask. In order to obtain the bright-green color, in the final weeks before harvesting, green tea is placed in the shade, which has the effect of concentrating green chlorophyll pigment in the leaves, making it particularly green.

The green-tea mud mask appears to be a clever visual signal that, at this stage in Skyler's "Breaking Bad" journey, she is still in the dark about Walt's illicit activities.


Saul Goodman's Office

Saul Goodman's office is located in a shopping center at the southeast corner of Eubank and Montgomery Blvds. NE.

(First seen in Season 2, episode 8, 'Better Call Saul'.)

Picture taken in August, 2010.

Over the years, a number of nightclubs have occupied this spot. Prior to the coming of Saul, "Cowboys" was most-recently located here.

When I was an undergraduate student at the University of New Mexico in the late 1970's, I remember coming to this place. Unfortunately, I can no longer remember the name of the nightcub at that time. I was following the Holy Grail of all young men, of course: trying to get loose and 'get laid'. I remember big-hair rockers, too much cigarette smoke, and music so loud that conversation was impossible.

It's amazing to see the place reappear in my life as the offices of a criminal lawyer!

Saul's is available to the highest bidder. But you knew that already!

Saul's. Wow! They've been here recently!

Touring this location on May 20, 2011, I noticed a new bar had opened up right next to Saul's, called "The Dirty Bourbon"!

The physical character of the city is changing fast, much like the story of the ephemeral drug trade: here today, gone elsewhere tomorrow!

Touring this location early in October, 2011, I notice a new drinking establishment has replaced Saul Goodman's old office: "Hooligans"!

Saul's old office, crowded evening time, February 12, 2015.

There have been a dizzying number of changes here lately. In January, The Local Brewhouse opened here, but in March an Investment Firm bought them out (with 'The Local Brewhouse' scheduled to move to Rio Rancho). As part of the changes, the new owners uncovered a window that had been boarded up that advertised Saul Goodman's services. The fate of that window now rests with them.

(August 2015) The establishment 'Sinners and Saints' occupies the former site of Saul's office, and mercifully, the window had been saved!

At To'hajiilee, there is a stone head that looks like a Picasso rendition of an Easter Island stone head (see Season 1 post), which was shown in the episodes 'Pilot' and 'The Cat's in the Bag.' Clearly, the creative team for the TV show noted the head too. I notice that various spiritualist web sites associate Easter Island heads with the concept of renewal. That would be perfectly in keeping with the theme of these two episodes.

There is also a reference to Easter Island heads in Season 2 of "Breaking Bad". Some of the parking islands in Saul Goodman's parking lot look like abstract Easter Island heads. This particular abstract head has recently been removed, so this feature is endangered in that parking lot ("Breaking Bad, Season 3, episode 5, 'Mas').

Parking island outside Saul's Office. Reminds me of Easter Island heads.

Parking island outside Saul's Office. Reminds me of Easter Island heads.

As of 2018, Duke City Sports Bar occupies the space where Saul's Office was said to be.

Round arch on the sidewalk outside Saul's.

Saul's Office doorway is still preserved!

Arcade of round arches west of Saul's Office.

The Dirty Bourbon and Duke City Sports Bar, February 2018.

Saul's Office (February 2020).

Remarkably, for Season 6 of "Better Call Saul," the showrunners once again have access to the site of Saul's Office.  Glory be! (Probably due to the business ruination of the Covid-19 pandemic).

Saul Goodman's Office, February 23, 2022.

Parable Buried in Saul's Opening Ad

There appears to be an odd little tale, based on locations, coded into the background scenes of Saul's Opening Ad.

Splash screens (circled) show a Clark County, Nevada emblem (Gambling capital Las Vegas is the county seat). Good fortune is important when dealing with the justice system.

The background shows scenes outside of AT&T Stadium in San Francisco's China Basin neighborhood (including the Lefty O'Doul Bridge, circled). China Basin was where the wealth of the Orient first entered America. Wealth is important when dealing with the justice system (particularly external, Asian wealth).

The font of the 'Police' sign in the ad is the same as the sign at the Wilshire Community Police Station (a rare Southern California “Breaking Bad” filming location, located near Hollywood). The ‘police officer’ is clearly a model. Fame is important when dealing with the justice system.

Similarities between the TV characters and any other persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental

You never know where the screenwriters get their ideas for AMC's Albuquerque-based TV show "Breaking Bad", but I'm sure that when many Albuquerqueans first saw Saul Goodman's cheesy TV ad, the first thought writhing around in the back of their heads was of similarly cheesy TV ads by Ron Bell, who has been on Albuquerque TV for decades. I moved from Albuquerque in 1980, but Ron Bell was already a fixture on local TV by then. He's still there!

On December 10, 2015, Vince Gilligan spoke about his career at University of California, Davis’ Mondavi Center. According to Gilligan, one of the influences used in creating the amalgam character of Saul Goodman was simply seeing billboards of a personal injury attorney while being driven around Albuquerque on a siting-locations bus and wondering whether, since Walt needed a consigliere, maybe somebody like that would work (Vince didn't identify the attorney because he didn't want to get sued - he said that in dead seriousness - but I'm thinking it is likely to have been Ron Bell).

But Saul Goodman's and Ron Bell's law practices are completely different, of course. Different aspects of the law, after all. Bell specializes in cases involving drinking under the influence of alcohol.

Still, take a look at the ads....

Better Call Saul




Joaquin Zamora - Ron Bell Commercial




Saul Goodman Will Fight For You!



Saul will fight even against those horrid trolls known as bloggers!


Ron Bell found guilty of DWI

Upper Northeast Heights (E. of Juan Tabo)  

Hank and Marie Schrader's home, 4901 Cumbre Del Sur NE.

Really close to the Sandia Mountains! Seen in many episodes, starting in Season 2, episode 1, '737'.

In the scenes with the toy car, Glass Block Windows (a Chicago reference) are visible across the street, but what the exact Chicago reference might be is unknown. One possibility is the Tucker '48, an innovative car built by forward-thinking, Chicago-based Preston Tucker, whose plans all came to ruin.

J.P. Wynne High School (3), Eldorado High School, 11300 Montgomery Blvd. NE (Season 1, episode 7, 'No Rough Stuff Type Deal'; Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo'; Season 2, episode 8, 'Better Call Saul'; Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala'; Season 3, episode 4, 'Green Light')

Starting in Season 2 of the "Breaking Bad" TV series, on-campus high school scenes were filmed at Eldorado High School, in Albuquerque's Northeast Heights (and much closer to the Sandia Mountains). For example, Walt and Jesse squabble in Eldorado High School's parking lot about the quality of crystal-blue meth. A sidelong view of this wall (which honors the Eldorado Eagles - seen above, obscured by the pine tree) is evident in the background as they fight. (See the High Schools of "Breaking Bad", in my Season 1 post.)


Northeast Heights (N. Of Osuna)

(No new locations offered with this update)


Lower Northeast Heights Locations (W. of Wyoming), & Lomas Blvd. Corridor

Here is an obscure location where Combo hands off money to Jesse in the ‘Breakage’ montage. This location at 4607 Lomas Blvd. NE was occupied by “This N’ That Thrift Store” (now I'm not certain). There is a newer store located about here called Jane's Salon and Vintage, 4603 Lomas Blvd. NE.

(Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage') Combo hands off money to Jesse.

Obscure place on Lomas Blvd., 2018.

A-1 Trophy Center, 4305 Lomas Blvd. NE.

(Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage') Skinny Pete stands here.

Party house (Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'). Montage (part 17)

This is the Patio Plaza Office Building, 5000 Marble NE, just off of Lomas Blvd. NE. The door appears to be located approximately at 671 Manzano St. NE.

Badger's car (Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'). Montage.

This brief scene, from the same Montage and concatenated with the scene above, shows businesses across the street such as Action Disability Representatives, 630 Manzano St. NE.

From the "Breakage" montage. The location is 631 Manzano St. NE, immediately behind Flea Mart, 5015 Lomas Blvd. NE. Jesse stashes some drugs in the drainpipe and moves on.

It seems like a general rule with "Breaking Bad" montages that the scenes are usually filmed in fairly-close proximity with one another. It’s probably a matter of practicality as much as anything else. Plus, you get general coherence of neighborhood.

Jesse drives to collect money from his crew, heading south on the 600 block of Truman St. NE towards Lomas Blvd. (Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'). Part of Breakage Montage.

Memory is a tricky thing. That tall building visible in Jesse's drive down Truman is associated with a Nursing Home - The Good Samaritan Society at Manzano del Sol Village.

I remember visiting a nursing home in that general area when I was going to UNM, circa 1978. Those of us active in the UNM Ballroom Dance Club put on a lunchtime dance show in the nursing home cafeteria. After the first dance I expected a round of applause and was startled when there was none. Afterwards, one of the nurses reassured us that they appreciated our performance, but just couldn't respond - dementia, drugs, fatigue, etc. Was this the nursing home I remember? Don’t know. A lot of time has passed and neighborhoods change.


Downtown

Texas office site (Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul'). This office is also in the Simms Building, where the Albuquerque DEA offices are filmed (see Season 1 locations).

DEA - Simms Building. (Season 2)

Spiral staircase in the Simms Building lobby.

Sunrise Bank Building, 219 Central Ave. NW, now known as Banquelofts.

(Season 2, episode 4, 'Down') Mr. and Mrs. Pinkman's lawyer's office.

(Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala') Mural used in the opening montage.

(Season 3, episode 2, 'Caballo sin Nombre')

Banquelofts, 219 Central Ave. NW.

Banquelofts, 219 Central Ave. NW.

Banquelofts, 219 Central Ave. NW.

Pay phone & parking garage, Silver Ave. SW, between 1st & 2nd Streets, (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee').

Bed-bound in the hospital, Walt gets a call from Jesse, calling from a pay phone located near this parking garage, located on Silver Ave. SW between 1st and 2nd Streets.

KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave. NW. Seen through a bus window as Walt travels around town. KiMo = Chemo.

(Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee')

KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave. NW. Seen through a bus window as Walt travels around town.

(Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee')

KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave. NW. Seen through a bus window as Walt travels around town.

(Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee')

KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave. NW.

KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave. NW.

KiMo Theatre, 423 Central Ave. NW.

Burt's Tiki Lounge, 313 Gold Ave. SW. Combo sells teenths to some ladies in front of Burt's Tiki Lounge during a neon-lit evening.

(Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage')

In the summer of 2016, Burt's Tiki Lounge moved from its old location (since 1999). The new Burt's Tiki Lounge is located at 515 Central Ave. NW. (More details.)

Oncology Clinic (exterior), Alvarado Plaza, 484 Silver Ave. SW (Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'). Walt tosses away the HOPE pin handed to him by the sympathetic clerk at the Oncology Clinic.

A Pueblo Deco Arch!

Pueblo Deco arch of Alvarado Plaza.

Downtown West and Old Town

Washington Park, 10th and Park Ave SW. Badger sells meth from a bench in front of these pillars at Washington Park, 10th and Park Ave SW, and ends up getting arrested.

(Season 2, episode 8, 'Better Call Saul')

Three pillars at Washington Park.

Building that replaced the Silver Moon Lodge.

Huning Castle & ABQ Country Club

Walt & Flynn drive, Laguna Blvd. SW, heading NE from about intersection with San Pasquale & Park Aves. SW (Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo'). Fire ants and scorpions.

Spooge's house - exterior, 13th and Marquette Ave. NW.

(Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo') Jesse prepares to get rough.

Here is the intersection of Alcalde Pl. and Tingley Drive. Gretchen drives her Bentley along Tingley Drive and phones Skyler White (Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo').

At the southern end of Tingley Dr. the fence posts are wood. Further north, however, the fence posts are metal. The very last part of the scene, with a metal fence post visible, is far enough south that the miniature railroad is not in the scene, but far enough north that the fence posts are still metal. Interestingly, at one point in the conversation, the street signs at the intersection of Alcalde Pl. and Tingley Dr. are visible through Gretchen's window. So, it appears the scene was a bit farther north than I thought at first, but it's still on Tingley Drive.

This particular scene can only be had from the roof of the Old Town Parking Garage, 20th & Mountain Rd. NW (Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul').

"We're not charging enough. Corner the market then raise the price. Simple economics."

Barelas

Second and Hazeldine Ave. SW. Combo sells meth on the wrong street corner.

(Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala') Combo is shot here.

(Season 3, episode 11, 'Abiquiu') Jesse returns to this spot to plan his hit.

(Season 3, episode 12, 'Half Measures') Jesse tries to avenge Tomas' death.

Second and Hazeldine Ave. SW. Combo sells meth on the wrong street corner.

Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In December 2015, “Breaking Bad” fans Keefe O’Brien and his uncle Jim erected a descanso (generally, a roadside cross or shrine of Mexican origin that memorializes someone killed in a journey) to Combo at Second and Hazeldine Ave.

Yes!!!

Long live "Breaking Bad"!

Combo's Corner.

Combo's Corner.

Combo's Corner.

Third and Santa Fe Ave. SW.

(Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala') Combo gathers friends and others at this corner.

Greek Orthodox Mural. Mural at 4th and Hazeldine Ave. SW.

(Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala') Tomas Cantillo bicycles past this location.

Greek Orthodox Mural. Mural at 4th and Hazeldine Ave. SW.

(Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala') Tomas Cantillo bicycles past this location.

Reader "OldeSaultie" has mapped out Tomas Cantillo's bicycle journey in Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala'). Here is his map. He has included more screen shots on OldeSaultie's Google Map for Season 2.

Railyards. Commercial and Pacific Ave. SE.

(Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo') Skinny Pete & Jesse talk about Spooge.

Also featured in this scene is one of the Stink Bugs that made growing up in Albuquerque so enjoyable. When annoyed, these bugs emit a noxious-smelling fluid from their posterior. They smell horrible!

During the scene, Jesse toys with but ultimately spares the stink bug. Skinny Pete, however, stomps on it. This stomping action is likely a reference to the gratuitous beetle-stomping scene in the 1930 Surrealist film L'Age d'Or.

"Perrodo - Stink Bug", by Juan Wijngaard.

New Mexico is host to a variety of stink bugs, including the Conchuela Stink Bug (which we blamed for eating the tar off our roof in Corrales during an infestation when I was a kid). Nevertheless, the particular stink bug that Skinny Pete steps on is likely to be a Darkling Beetle (Coleoptera Tenebrionidae: Perrodo in Spanish). These bugs "stand on their heads, hoist their rear-ends up, and blast a stinky fluid."

On August 1, 2015, a stink bug goes about its business on Pajarito Mesa.

Not a building, per se, but the Rail Runner (illustrated with New Mexico's state bird, the Roadrunner) is always colorful!

Jane's Self-Help Group, and neighboring cafe (Season 2, episode 12, 'Phoenix'). Barelas Community Center, 801 Barelas Road SW.

The café setup used the real community center kitchen.

Peering through the window at the murals on the wall.

"Breaking Bad" has spurred such an explosion in art!

Skinny Pete, Combo, and Badger. Illustration by Bongo.


Huning Highlands/ Martineztown

(no new locations offered in this update).


University Area & Near Presbyterian Hospital

Jane and Jesse's Duplex, 323 and 325 Terrace St. SE, at Terrace St. and Lead Ave. SE.

(First seen in Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage') Evicted from home, Jesse moves here.

Jesse and Jane's (February 2020).

Don Margolis drives to Jane’s house in two segments. Part 1 of the drive is southbound on Terrace St., from Gold Avenue SE to almost Lead Avenue. Part 2 of the drive is eastbound on Silver Avenue SE, from about Sycamore St. to Pine St. (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'). "No excuses!"

Quarters, 801 Yale Blvd. SE (Season 2, episode 12, 'Phoenix').

Walter and Donald Margolis talk about family.

In early 2022, word has arrived that Quarters will soon close - a victim of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Skyler's natal doctor, UNM Science and Technology Park, 800 Bradbury Dr. SE (Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala').

Post-sonogram parking lot talk.

Shooting gallery/crack house, Corner of Cornell and Silver Ave. SE (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ').

Exterior shots.

On my New Year's 2012 visit, I noted that the Shooting gallery/crack house building, long an eyesore in the University neighborhood, is now gone. A decade later, apartments are present on the site.

(August, 2015)

Alley from which Walt approached the shooting gallery.

Nob Hill

De Anza Motor Lodge, 4301 Central NE, (Season 2, episode 12, 'Phoenix'). Walt throws the spare tire out from his car's trunk and makes a $1.2 million drug sale here.

De Anza Motor Lodge, 4301 Central Ave. NE, (Season 2, episode 12, 'Phoenix'). Walt throws the spare tire out from his car's trunk and makes a $1.2 million drug sale here.

De Anza new condo project, with rejuvenated sign (February 2020).

De Anza Motel, February 24, 2022.

Jesse's friend's apartment, Aliso Dr. & Arlote Ave. SE (Season 2, episode 4, 'Down').

Jesse can't sell his friend's wife on a reunion of Twaughthammer. Place is directly across street from Walt's new single apt., and near the recently-demolished Aztec Motel, on Central.

"Fallacies" By Twaughthammer

South Valley (West of River), Southwest Albuquerque and Pajarito Mesa

Walt Goes Naked - Store Interior.

Just the day before I arrived in Albuquerque, "WallDruggie" visited this place and confirmed that Jerry's Market, 7553 Isleta Blvd. SW, was the location where Walt Went Naked (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'). She was kind enough to take me there.

That doorway....

Nancy Bymers aka "WallDruggie".

"WallDruggie" got a bit of attention for her efforts. She earned it!:

Albuquerque, New Mexico resident and "Breaking Bad" fan Nancy Bymers (WallDruggie on Flickr), has undertaken an incredible mission to source out the real life locations of scenes from the television series "Breaking Bad".

Rio Grande Farmer's Market, 1403 Isleta Blvd. SW (Season 2, episode 6, 'Peekaboo'). Spooge's ATM theft site.

Rio Grande Farmer's Market (Feb. 17, 2017).

The best piñatas in Albuquerque at Rio Grande Farmer's Market!

Behind the ristra, there are pattern-forming cinder blocks on the facade at Rio Grande Farmer's Market. I'd like to understand the meaning of this pattern (it recurs on Chuck McGill's house, and on a house on Broadway Blvd. SE just south of Central Ave.)

Los Pollos Hermanos, (known in the real world as "Twisters"), 4257 Isleta Blvd. SW. (First seen in Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala') Walt first meets Gustavo ('Gus') Fring here.

Los Pollos Hermanos, Twisters, 4257 Isleta Blvd. SW. (First seen in Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala') Walt first meets Gustavo ("Gus") Fring here.

Los Pollos Hermanos, Twisters, 4257 Isleta Blvd. SW. (First seen in Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala').

The Los Pollos emblem is permanently painted on the wall, near the door of Twisters.

Los Pollos Hermanos, Twisters, 4257 Isleta Blvd. SW. (First seen in Season 2, episode 11, 'Mandala').

On my New Year's 2012 visit, the yard adjacent to Twisters on the north side contained a watchful emu. The emu is briefly seen in "Breaking Bad" (Season 4, episode 8, 'Hermanos').

Twisters (Feb. 17, 2017).

Los Pollos Hermanos sign.

Los Pollos Hermanos (Feb. 17, 2017).

Vince Gilligan and company love double meanings – more bang for the buck! They use double meanings at every opportunity.

One example of a double meaning is the episode title ‘Mandala’ (“Breaking Bad,” Season 2, episode 10, ‘Mandala’). On “Breaking Bad” fan sites, one meaning is generally listed: “Mandala is Sanskrit, meaning circle of life — the episode begins with Combo's death and ends with Skyler going into labor.”

Nevertheless, there is a second possible interpretation:

A mandala (Sanskrit: मण्डल, maṇḍala; literally "circle") is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. In common use, "mandala" has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe.

The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a T. Mandalas often exhibit radial balance.

...In historical, social and political sense, the term "mandala" is also employed to denote traditional Southeast Asian political formations (such as federation of kingdoms or vassalized states). It was adopted by 20th century Western historians from ancient Indian political discourse as a means of avoiding the term 'state' in the conventional sense. Not only did Southeast Asian polities not conform to Chinese and European views of a territorially defined state with fixed borders and a bureaucratic apparatus, but they diverged considerably in the opposite direction: the polity was defined by its centre rather than its boundaries, and it could be composed of numerous other tributary polities without undergoing administrative integration.

Los Pollos Hermanos is introduced in episode ‘Mandala,’ and the term may refer to the restaurant. Gus administers the polity – the cosmos – of Los Pollos Hermanos (including the tributary polities of the Chicken Farm and the Industrial Laundry), and zealously guards its gates. The front doors of the restaurant are in the form of a reverse-T. Gus guards his mandala’s gates well. It’s difficult for Walt and Jesse to enter this universe!

The mandala shape recurs in the TV series. For example, the Four Corners Monument (“Breaking Bad,” Season 4, episode 6, ‘Cornered’) is built in the form of a mandala.

Hanging With the Los Pollos Ostrich.

Twisters Ostrich.

San Jose Neighborhood and South Valley (East of River)

Guarded industrial facility, Southside Water Reclamation Plant (SWRP), Cogeneration Facility, west side of building, 4021 Second St. SW (Season 1, episode 7, 'No Rough Stuff Type Deal'). Walt & Jesse steal a methylamine barrel from Southwestern Aniline. Hank reviews security camera footage again (Season 2, episode 1, '737'; and also Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'). Like the Railyards, the Sewage Treatment facility has been used in other movies and television shows. For example, that same barrel storage building was also featured in Jackie Chan's "The Spy Next Door" (2010).

Junkyard, All Mini Trucks, 5500 Broadway Blvd. SE. Heisenberg and Jesse rendezvous with Tuco and colleagues here (Season 1, episode 7, 'No Rough Stuff Type Deal'; Season 2, episode 1, '737').

This junkyard has since been removed (see Season 1 post). On my August 2016 visit, I noticed new activity at the site.

Sunwest Truck and Auto Salvage, currently at the site of the former All Mini Trucks, 5500 Broadway Blvd. SE (February 15, 2017).

Jesse's Rehab, Isleta Casino (formerly the Hard Rock Casino), 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE. The casino is operated by Isleta Pueblo (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'; Season 3, episode 1, 'No Mas').

Jesse's Rehab, The Jar Spa at Isleta Casino (formerly the Hard Rock Casino), 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE. The casino is operated by Isleta Pueblo (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'; Season 3, episode 1, 'No Mas').

Jesse's Rehab, The Jar Spa at Isleta Casino (formerly the Hard Rock Casino), 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE. The casino is operated by Isleta Pueblo (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'; Season 3, episode 1, 'No Mas').

Jesse's Rehab, The Jar Spa at Isleta Casino (formerly the Hard Rock Casino), 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE. The casino is operated by Isleta Pueblo (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'; Season 3, episode 1, 'No Mas').

Jesse's Rehab, The Jar Spa at Isleta Casino (formerly the Hard Rock Casino), 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE. The casino is operated by Isleta Pueblo (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'; Season 3, episode 1, 'No Mas').

Jesse's Rehab, The Jar Spa at Isleta Casino (formerly the Hard Rock Casino), 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE. The casino is operated by Isleta Pueblo (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'; Season 3, episode 1, 'No Mas').

Reynold's Auto Service, 120 Woodward Street SW (2nd St. SW & Woodward). RV storage yard. (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'; Season 2, episode 4, 'Down'; Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'; and Season 3, episode 7, 'Sunset').

I believe the name "Badger" comes from Chicago slang, but there are also multiple meanings. Badger is said to have family from Fresno, CA ("Breaking Bad," Season 2, episode 10, 'Mandala'). Clovis is a major suburb of Fresno, and Badger is a small hamlet in high country east of Fresno.

Reynold's Auto Service, 120 Woodward Street SW (2nd St. SW & Woodward). RV storage yard.

Reynold's Auto Service, 120 Woodward Street SW (2nd St. SW & Woodward). RV storage yard.

Reynold's Auto Service, 120 Woodward Street SW (2nd St. SW & Woodward). RV storage yard.

Sam Hughes and King Tommy Au-Yeung.

Southeast Heights

Here's a false location, but popular in local Albuquerque lore: Fair 'N' Square Food Store, 8020 Central Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM.

Walt goes naked at the Hi-Lo Market, 2513 4th Street NW, (see North Valley locations, below) for exterior shots only (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'). The interior, however, was filmed elsewhere. Many locals thought that location might have been the Fair 'N' Square Market on East Central, but in fact it was filmed at Jerry's Market (see South Valley locations, below).

On my October, 2011 visit, I asked Fair 'N' Square Market management whether "Breaking Bad" had ever filmed there. Management said, sadly, the store wasn’t a "Breaking Bad" filming location. They assured me, however, that Bryan Cranston is welcome to walk around their store naked any time he pleases.

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History. Current address is here, at 601 Eubank Blvd. SE.

What an awesome place! Especially when I was young, I paid very close attention to the Space Race and strategic armaments, so this place was one immense nostalgic callback to what mattered a lot when I was growing up.

No scenes from “Breaking Bad” were filmed here. Rather, atomic museum scenes were filmed at the old location, now closed, located just NE of Old Town, at 1905 Mountain Rd. NW. "Heisenberg" meets Jesse's dealers at the museum (Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul'). Still, the missile and some of the museum displays that made cameos in the television series reside here now.

Missile at the National Nuclear Museum of Science and History, currently located at 601 Eubank Blvd. SE, but formerly located at 1905 Mountain Rd. NW. (Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul') For the TV series, this missile was captured on film when it was located at the old Atomic Musuem in Old Town before they moved it to this new location in February 2009.

Carbon, the most-versatile of elements! (Mendeleev Periodic Table of the Elements embedded in the floor of the museum).

Left: It's too obvious, but here is a mention for the Albuquerque Sunport. As might be expected, the airport is shown several times in "Breaking Bad". (Season 2, episode 9, 'Four Days Out') (Season 3, episode 4 'Green Light')

Pueblo Deco arches at an entrance to Albuquerque Sunport terminal.

Parking Garage, with big pillars, (Season 2, episode 9, 'Four Days Out'). Blue bars. This parking garage was also featured in Season 3, episode 4, 'Green Light' and Season 5, episode 7, 'Say My Name'.

Airport Parking Garage staircase

"Smoking marijuana, eating Cheetos and masturbating do not constitute 'plans' in my book."

Blue bars in the Albuquerque Sunport parking structure.

Ridgeline skylight at the Albuquerque Sunport parking structure.

Hospital, Gibson Hospital (formerly Lovelace Medical Center), 5400 Gibson Blvd. SE. (First distinctly seen in Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee')

"So roll me further bitch!"

It's difficult to tell where some of the interior medical scenes are filmed in "Breaking Bad". Some are probably filmed at "Q" Studios, particularly early in the series (Season 1), but many scenes were no doubt filmed at Gibson Hospital (perhaps other hospitals and clinics as well).

The entire west wing of Gibson Hospital is closed, making it essentially an indoor medical playground for "Breaking Bad". It would be so alluring as a set that I bet almost all medical scenes from Season 2 forwards were filmed here!

Gibson Hospital.

Gibson Hospital.

The “Are We Safe?” scene ("Breaking Bad," Season 3, episode 9, 'Kafkaesque') was likely filmed in the parking lot east of the hospital. My guess is (35.057353°, -106.580340°), but it’s all a little fuzzy, since there is some evidence in the scene that they changed the direction of the car in order to take advantage of better sunlight during Walt and Skyler’s conversation (car facing south), and the broader view when seen from above (car facing north).

Some of these medical scenes are very memorable.

I'm haunted by the 'Mustard' scene (Season 1, episode 1, 'Pilot') where Walt receives the bad news about cancer while sitting in front of a big painting of the Sandia Mountains. It seems to me I've seen that painting before, but where? (It must be fairly well-known.) And, of course, Walt eventually obtains the painting (or its print) and displays it on the wall of his new single apartment (Silver & Morningside Dr. SE) in Season 3!

I've been thinking about various influences on the show. I'm wondering if the scene in the 'Pilot' episode, where the Doctor reveals cancer to Walt, and Walt points out the mustard stain on the Doctor's coat, might be an echo of "Seinfeld", Season 8, episode 5, 'The Package', where George likes the fact that Sheila, the one-hour photo-shop clerk, notes a mustard stain in George's photos.

JERRY: What are you doing?

GEORGE: I meet this women, Sheila. She works down at the one hour photo pace. She's got this incredible smile. Like she's got extra teeth or something

JERRY: Extra teeth. I love that look.

GEORGE: Hey check this out. I go to pick up my pictures and she says " I hope you got that mustard stain out of your shirt."

JERRY: What mustard stain?

GEORGE: Don't you see. She's looking at my pictures.

JERRY: Why did you take a picture of a mustard stain?

GEORGE: That's got nothing to do with it.

JERRY: I see. She's looking.

GEORGE: Yesssss.

Bus stop near Gibson Hospital. (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'). The bus stop is located just west of Gibson Hospital, with the McDonald's at San Mateo & Gibson Blvds. providing a nice neon backdrop.

Walt's Bus Stop looks fancier these days - February 22, 2022.

Hotel Room, Vagabond Inn Executive [Albuquerque Airport], 1901 University Blvd. SE (Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul'). The DEA interviews 'Tortuga' here.

I was astounded to find on my October, 2011 visit that the Vagabond Inn Executive (Tortuga’s interview site) is now shuttered. I got pictures of the place, but it’s an amazing locale now: a ghost hotel, falling into ruin!

Background for 'Negro y Azul' music video, Vagabond Inn Executive [Albuquerque Airport], 1901 University Blvd. SE (Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul').

As Los Cuates de Sinaloa play their music, background scenes can be seen in the distance across University Blvd.

(February 2018) The former hotel has been converted into studio apartments, and renamed University Village.

Near "Q" Studios

The Pavilion.

'OldeSaultie' determined, based on the guitar sculpture visible in the background, that the Pavilion concert venue parking lot is where 'Flynn' gets his driving lesson (Season 2, episode 4, 'Down'). The Pavilion itself, located at 5601 University Blvd. SE, is not shown on "Breaking Bad".

Guitar sculpture.

(November, 2014) Maybe it's "Breaking Bad" mojo, but at the rent-a-car place I got free upgrade from an econonomy model to a bright-red 2014 Dodge Challenger. So, I brought the muscle car over to the Pavilion parking lot, and in classic "Breaking Bad" style planned to set it afire....

Trudging through the desert after escaping Tuco, Bobby Foster Rd. SE (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'). Sites are in a very tight cluster. Earliest sites in the walk are a little unclear, but you can see the Rio Grande Valley in the background. The later sites are easier to determine.

Camera location: (34.989131°, -106.644681°)
Desert Road: (34.988314°, -106.645265°)

Desert Road screen capture: (34.988314°, -106.645265°)

(Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee').

Elm Tree screen capture (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee').

View with Elm Tree: (34.988945°, -106.644804°). Picture from February, 2015. This elm tree likely died in the extraordinary drought of 2012-13.

Elm Tree, February 22, 2022.

Elm Tree, February 22, 2022.

Trudging through the desert, Pickup spot, Bobby Foster Rd. SE (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'). Walt & Jesse reach civilization after a harrowing walk through the desert. (34.989851°, -106.646201°)

Pickup location (Season 2, episode 3, ''Bit By A Dead Bee').

Saul's Burial Pit (Season 2, episode 8, 'Better Call Saul') looks as if it might be located near "Q" Studios. You can see a mountain in the background of the scene, probably looking south towards Polvadera Pk. in the Ladrones in the gloaming of the setting sun. I’m thinking the view is looking SSW, at about (34.986461°, -106.618266°).

Visible as a soil layer in Saul's Pit is a layer of caliche. Here is exposed caliche, on the edge of the East Mesa.

Caliche makes a good building material. I remember my Dad making an adobe out of nearly-pure caliche when I was a child. We tossed it from the roof of our house onto a concrete surface and only managed to crack it. Cutting through caliche takes work, and Jesse and Walt are to be commended for cutting through that caliche layer so quickly.

"Q" Studios

Air Traffic Control Center. Filmed at "Q" Studios (Season 2, episode 13, 'ABQ'). Donald Margolis makes a fateful mistake.

I-25 Corridor, North

Beneke's, 2241 Phoenix Ave. NE. Next door to Advantage Barricade and Roadmarks. Skyler White returns to work here. (First seen: Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul')

October, 2011: The altered appearance of Ted Beneke's office (Season 4, episode 10, 'Salud') suggests that Breaking Bad no longer has access to the old Beneke offices. Indeed, it now appears the old Beneke offices are now home for Gonzalez Mechanical.

Gonzalez Mechanical, aka Beneke's.

Glass Block Window featuring octagon at Beneke's.

Glass Block Window featuring octagon at Beneke's.

Glass Block Window featuring octagon at Beneke's.

"Happy Birthday" garage at Beneke's.

Glass Block Window featuring octagon at Beneke's.

Glass Block Window featuring octagon at Beneke's.

Beneke's (February 2020).

North Valley

Walt goes naked at the Hi-Lo Market, 2513 4th Street NW (Season 2, episode 3, 'Bit By A Dead Bee'). This is the exterior only - the interior was filmed elsewhere (see Jerry's Market, South Valley locations, above).

Northwest Albuquerque

(no new locations offered with this update)


Rio Rancho

(no new locations offered with this update)


Corrales

(no new locations offered with this update)


West Mesa Locations (except Pajarito Mesa)

(no new locations offered with this update)


Southwest Albuquerque

(no new locations offered in this update)


Sandia And Manzano Mountain

(no new locations offered with this update)


To'hajiilee

(no new locations offered in this update)


Zia, San Ysidro, and Cabezon

Border Landscape - Hola DEA. Cabezon Road is located on Zia Indian Pueblo land about 4.5 miles south of San Ysidro, New Mexico. It was down this road where the border landscape was filmed (Season 2, episode 7, 'Negro y Azul'). (35.501973°, -106.818708°)

Cabezon Road slips past the end of a remarkable-looking ridge as it passes into the plain where Tortuga's head was found on a tortoise. The ridge-end is shown here.

Ridge on the left.

"What's the matter, Schrader? You act like you've never seen a severed human head on a tortoise before!"

This hilltop (or a shorter hill to the right) may have been the location where the DEA folks set up their observation post.

The ridge again. There are caves about ten miles NW of this spot, and I wonder if there are caves near here too.

The two hills. I wanted to proceed further, but there was a mud wallow (foreground) that made me hesitate. In addition, I could hear guns in the distance from target shooters, and I didn't want to press my luck.

White Mesa, with its mine, appears in the distance, almost like a glacier. The whiteness of White Mesa was also visible on TV.

Santa Ana Pueblo & Algodones

Rio Grande River (Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'). Illegals find Tuco's grill.

This is the Rio Grande, on Santa Ana land, near where the power lines cross the river. (35.358692ø, -106.516228ø)

In Season 2, Jesse and Walt rendezvous with the RV under power lines not far from a volcanic mesa (Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'). At first, I thought this location was on Albuquerque's west side, near the Volcano Cliffs there, but that area has been developed in recent years to the point where it would no longer be suitable for a remote desert rendezvous. The correct location appears to be Santa Ana Pueblo: (35.365010°, -106.533869°)

I’ve been considering Possible Rendezvous Sites at the end of ‘Breakage’. This location is likely nearby, on Santa Ana Pueblo Land.

These sort of views are very common on northern NM plateaus, so there is nearly an infinite set of places to work with. Nevertheless, this location is on Santa Ana Pueblo land, and is in close proximity to the two other Santa Ana locations used in ‘Breakage’, and could well have been convenient. Possible Rendezvous Point: (35.369786°, -106.546615°). It requires a site visit to be sure. I’ll list it as a possible location. That parcel of Santa Ana land out there is ‘Restricted Access’, however, so getting confirmation will require either skullduggery or social graces with the Pueblo. (I tried being brazen about it, and simply going out there, but was stopped.)

Bernalillo and Placitas

Hank throws Tuco's 'grill' into the Rio Grande (Season 2, episode 5, 'Breakage'). This is the Highway 550 bridge over the Rio Grande, at Bernalillo.

Santa Fe and Lamy

(no new locations offered in this update)


Near Los Lunas And Belen

RAKS Building Supply store and parking lot, 108 Carson Dr. SE, Los Lunas (Season 2, episode 10, 'Over'). Walt stares down two meth cooks in the parking lot at RAKS.

Note the big "W" above the main entrance.  

RAKS Building Supply store and parking lot, 108 Carson Dr. SE, Los Lunas (Season 2, episode 10, 'Over'). Walt stares down two meth cooks in the parking lot at RAKS.

RAKS Los Lunas, February 23, 2022.

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My Search For Tuco's Desert Shack, (Season 2, episode 2, 'Grilled').

At first, I was very confident that I knew where Tuco's house in the desert was located. The TV series seemed to show the presence of a rail line nearby, and that was a major clue. The mountain in the distance might be Polvadera Peak, in the Ladron Mountains, southwest of Albuquerque. The small, rather uniform sagebrush vegetation is actually rather unusual in New Mexico: surprisingly scarce! The only place it seems to be abundant is in the Los Lunas/Belen area, and it may be a threatened biome, for all I know. I figured Tuco's shack had to be southwest of Los Lunas, perhaps along Highway 6. So I traveled the length of Highway 6 in August, 2010, trying to find it. The house wasn't out there!

So, in May, 2011, I made a second attempt, and traveled east of Belen, along Highway 47 towards Mountainair, and south of that highway. That area SE of Belen shares several features in common with Tuco's desert house. It has small uniform sagebrush in abundance. It has the rail line. It has the mountain in the distance, with the base obscured by nearby hills. Near the village of Casa Colorada, I felt I was getting very close. Nevertheless, the neighborhood was too modern to be the exact site. So, I kept on looking!

Left: The Ladron Mountains, as seen from Highway 6, near Dalies, NM. Nevertheless, despite the frustration, I wasn't unhappy that Tuco's place was so hard for me to find. You encounter many strange things on the back roads of New Mexico. You may not find what you are looking for, but you will still find something of interest. Take a look at what I found in the vast desert!

I just know there is an interesting tale associated with this place (34.586666°, -106.691469°), but I have absolutely no idea what that tale might be! I need a "Breaking Bad" script writer, ASAP!

Tuco's desert house (Season 2, episode 2, 'Grilled'). On Dalies Road, west of Los Lunas (34.800059°, -106.849620°). On my third attempt (October, 2011), I finally located the place!

People have noted that Walt adopts the manners of the people he kills: for example, cutting crusts off bread like Krazy-8, or folding a towel on which to rest his knees at the toilet, like Gus. What’s less evident is that Hank does likewise. For example, in the Southern style, Tuco has a bottle tree, with hanging bottles, at his country crib. Later, in episode ‘Breakage,’ Hank adopts the bottle tree, but in its alternative design, as his bottle-drying rack in his garage where he makes Schraderbrau. Similarly in episode ‘Green Light,’ Hank is wearing a floral shirt, featuring what appears to be similar flowers as Jesse plants at his recovery resort.

More Distant Locations

Saul Goodman's Opening Ad (repeated from above)

Splash screens (circled) show a Clark County, Nevada emblem (suggesting the importance of luck and good fortune when dealing with the criminal justice system).

The background appears to show scenes outside of AT&T Stadium in San Francisco's China Basin neighborhood (including the Lefty O'Doul Bridge, circled). The China Basin neighborhood was one of the earliest gateways for the wealth of the Orient to flow into the United States (suggesting the importance of wealth - preferably external Asian wealth - when dealing with the criminal justice system).

The third scene remains unclear, but the font of the 'Police' sign seems to resemble the sign at the Wilshire Community Police Station filming location (suggesting the importance of fame when dealing with the criminal justice system).

Building with horizontal stripes, (Season 2, episode 8, 'Better Call Saul'). Badger's police interrogation. The 'Police' sign is also seen in Saul Goodman's introductory video. I notice there seems to be graffiti scrubbed off from the concrete sign.

Building with horizontal stripes
Wilshire Community Police Station
4861 W. Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019

One of the very few "Breaking Bad" locations NOT filmed in Albuquerque! This scene caused me much grief because this style of building is so rare in Albuquerque as to be non-existent. I thought it was from Phoenix, or maybe Dallas, but Miguel Jaramillo noticed what appeared to be a California license plate on the car in the scene and was finally able to locate it.