Butter Smith Kitchen & Pies opening first Las Cruces location in March

Butter Smith Kitchen & Pies, previously known as Village Inn, is pictured on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Butter Smith Kitchen & Pies, previously known as Village Inn, is pictured on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

LAS CRUCES – After nearly two years, one of two Las Cruces Village Inn locations is transitioning into Butter Smith Kitchen & Pies.

According to reporting from the El Paso Times in July 2021, the partnership that owns the Village Inn franchises in Las Cruces and El Paso announced it was moving away from the franchise to start a new local brand. Verlander Enterprises, LLC owns three locations in El Paso and the two Village Inn locations in Las Cruces.

Butter Smith is a similar diner concept with breakfast, lunch and dinner options as well as popular handmade pies and alcoholic beverages.

The location on the corner of Lohman Avenue and Telshor Boulevard is currently closed while renovations are completed. The outside of the building has already been repainted and a new sign was placed.

A representative of Verlander Enterprises said the restaurant should reopen to customers March 16 or 17.

The original plan was for both Las Cruces Village Inn locations to make the transition, however the representative said the location at 1435 S. Valley Dr. will remain a Village Inn for the time being.

Butter Smith Kitchen & Pies, previously known as Village Inn, is pictured on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Butter Smith Kitchen & Pies, previously known as Village Inn, is pictured on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Las Cruces’ new Butter Smith is located at 445 S. Telshor Blvd. and will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

A full menu can be found online at www.buttersmith.com. People can follow the local restaurant chain on Facebook and Instagram using the handle @ButterSmithKitchen.

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Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Butter Smith Kitchen & Pies opening first Las Cruces location in March