Café Central Completes Sale, Former Owner to Leave at Month’s End
El Paso, TX, July 10, 2009 — Trae Apodaca, long-time Café Cental proprietor, announced today that he will be leaving the restaurant he opened 18 years ago to pursue other interests. Citing completion of Café Central’s sale, a process that began last December, he said that he planned to leave when the transaction closed.
“It’s the end of an era for the restaurant,” he said. “And while it’s difficult to leave something that I’ve nurtured all these year, I also believe it’s time to move on to other projects. The restaurant business is dynamic and I see new opportunities happening in El Paso every day. I want to be part of that changing landscape.”
Staying in El Paso was always part of the plan, he said, as was moving his focus from operating as a sole proprietor to considering other types of restaurant ownership and concepts.
“This is a very exciting time for the city. With the addition of the medical school and the growth at Ft. Bliss, the type of dining customer is changing. I feel the need to be flexible in order to respond to the newly evolving restaurant culture.”
Café Central originally opened in Juarez, Mexico in 1918. In the 1940’s it moved to El Paso where it opened under the name, Miguel’s Central Café. Apodaca purchased the restaurant in 1991 changing the name to Café Central and growing it into a fine dining, downtown hotspot.
“Café Central remains the heartbeat of the business community,” he said. “Deals are made every day over lunches and dinners there. I’m proud to have been part of that culture for so many years. It is with sadness that I leave this place and I will miss it, but with big changes come even bigger opportunities and with that, I say ‘adios mi amigos’.”
======
Take Part in El Paso’s Future and Proudly Support Small Businesses
Dear El Pasoan,
A great injustice may fall upon the business community of El Paso – especially small businesses – and you can help stop it. On July 14, the El Paso City Council will vote on a measure that would drastically affect how you receive news and information via outdoor advertising.
The outdoor advertising community has made every effort to come to a fair compromise with the City of El Paso to not only reduce the number of boards in our city, but to replace older outdoor boards with newer, business-friendly digital boards. In fact, under the current ordinance, over the past several years, Clear Channel Outdoor Company (the largest outdoor company in El Paso) has removed 126 boards from within the city, while maintaining the flexibility to adjust its inventory to meet the changing needs of El Paso businesses.
However, some members of the El Paso City Council have pledged to halt the current, effective ordinance by ignoring a compromise ordinance negotiated by City staff and Clear Channel Outdoor, and to severely limit or ban outdoor advertising altogether. This will have an effect on all of us — including the City of El Paso which owns digital outdoor signs that would appear to be in violation if its own ordinance.
This proposed action by some members of City Council has been criticized by the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Both Chambers and other business groups have supported the outdoor-reduction compromise that the Legislative Review Committee suggested in August 2008. These groups know that so many El Paso businesses rely on outdoor advertising as their sole means of selling their products and services. It is cost-effective and it works. That is why almost every current Council member has used outdoor advertising during election periods.
Please pledge your support for El Paso businesses. Help those businesses by calling, writing, or emailing your Council Representative, and tell them to stay with the outdoor-reduction compromise. And, PLEASE grant us permission to place your name on this petition which will be presented to City Council on July 14th: “I support reducing the number of outdoor boards in El Paso by the compromise ratio of 3:1. Further, I support El Paso businesses and respect their choice to use outdoor advertising.”
Thank you for your help with this important matter.
El Paso Businesses and the Outdoor Advertising Coalition
======
Press Release: Arleene Barrios Named Public Information Officer for UTEP
Laura L. Acosta
The University of Texas at El Paso has named Arleene Barrios as its Public Information Officer.
Barrios is an award-winning journalist who is well-known in the El Paso community. During her 3 ½ years as a reporter for KFOX-TV, Barrios’ work was recognized several times by the Texas and New Mexico Associated Press, and was nominated twice for the prestigious Lonestar Emmy Award.
Having worked in the media for the past five years, Barrios understands the importance of keeping the community informed.
“It’s an exciting time to be at UTEP. There are infinite stories to be told. From academic achievement to research to athletics, there’s always something going on at the University. I look forward to working closely with the local and national media to bring more recognition to UTEP and this wonderful city,” said Barrios.
Barrios, a Cuban-American from Miami, Florida, earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications news from the University of Florida in 2004.
She can be reached at 915.747.7503 or by e-mail, news@utep.edu.
======
Better Business Bureau Shred Event
Saturday, July 11
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
5606 N. Mesa
Coronado Shopping Center
State Farm Insurance
Attendees can take documents to shred such as credit card statements, junk mail, confidential paperwork to be shred in a giant shredding truck. The event is intended to prevent identity theft. The BBB Foundation will accept donations.
===========
History Is in the Making at Fort Bliss; New Shopping Center is the First of its Kind
DENVER, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, July 17, 2009, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and ServiceStar Development Company will commemorate the groundbreaking of Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, the first-of-its-kind retail development to be part of a United States military installation.
Fort Bliss is undergoing significant expansion under the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005 including $4.8 billion in fully-funded construction that is already underway. By 2012, Fort Bliss is expected to grow by more than 60 percent and reach a population of more than 127,000 including Army personnel, National Guard and reserves, retirees and military families.
To better serve the growing Fort Bliss community, AAFES and ServiceStar Development Company have teamed, in a public/private venture, to create the first-ever opportunity for national, regional and local retailers to privately operate within a shopping center on a military installation. In addition to the Post Exchange and Commissary, which are both expanding, the open-air center will feature a multiplex, first-run movie theater as well as premium branded specialty retail offerings including apparel, jewelry, sporting goods and several full service restaurants.
"AAFES provides retail and quick-service restaurant offerings to active duty, guard and reserve members, military retirees and their families at tax-free, competitively low prices on military installations around the world," said Joe Giuffreda, vice president, AAFES. "With the creation of Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, we've been able to revolutionize the shopping experience and provide even greater convenience to the men and women who serve our country."
Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss will have a gross leasable area of 455,875 square feet. Anchoring the project will be an expanded Post Exchange, the on-installation department store, which will be 217,240 square feet, the Commissary, the Post grocery store, consisting of a new 111,180 square-foot store and a new privately-operated, multi-screen, first-run movie theater.
"With Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, we are creating a new market for retailers," said Mark DeRose, chief executive officer, ServiceStar Development Company. "Our retail and restaurant partners have a truly unique opportunity to expand and reach new customers, operate in an environment free from property taxes and the advantage of locating next to existing, well-established anchors that provide long-term sustainability."
The new shopping, dining and entertainment open-air marketplace will serve as the social gathering place for the greater Fort Bliss community and enhance the lifestyle of the people that work and live on and around the Post. By 2012, the daytime population of Fort Bliss will reach 49,000. The new retail destination will play host to community celebrations and events throughout the year and will feature many amenities including a children's play area, outdoor dining areas and free wireless internet access.
Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss will be a boon to the local economy. Current annual sales at Fort Bliss are $175 million. With the addition of Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, annual sales are projected to exceed $350 million. Fort Bliss is currently the second largest employer in El Paso. When complete, it is estimated that Freedom Crossing will generate 900 civilian jobs and $5.5 million in sales tax revenue for the City of El Paso, Texas annually.
Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss is designed to achieve a Silver Rating from the United States Green Building Council and its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. Sustainable practices including use of recycled materials, day-lighting principles, xeriscape and low-water usage were incorporated into the center's design.
When it opens in the fall of 2010, the $100 million retail development will serve the Fort Bliss community, which will include more than 108,000 active military, retirees and their family members. Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss will serve as the model for proposed retail developments at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, WA, and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, which will be developed by AAFES.
The Friday, July 17, 2009 groundbreaking celebration is open to the public. The event begins at 11 a.m. and will take place on the southeast corner of the intersection of Haan and Pleasonton Roads. Members of the media should arrive at the Cassidy Gate, off of US 54, at 10:30 a.m. for access to the event.
Retailers interested in learning more about the space available at Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss should contact David, Hicks and Lampert Brokerage at (303) 694-6082 or info@dhlb.com.
For more information on Freedom Crossing at Fort Bliss, please visit www.freedomcrossingatfortbliss.com
About AAFES
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. AAFES has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. To find out more about AAFES' history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp.
About ServiceStar Development Company
ServiceStar Development Company, founded in 1987, has successfully developed more than $500 million in open-air centers, mixed-use projects, neighborhood retail shopping centers and single tenant build-to-suits around the country. Through real estate investment, acquisition and development, the ServiceStar team creates highly-successful projects with enduring community appeal. For more information on the company and its projects, please visit www.servicestarusa.com.
Web Site: http://www.servicestarusa.com/ http://www.freedomcrossingatfortbliss.com/
http://www.aafes.com/pa/default.asp
======
Bi-National Sustainability Laboratory (BNSL) Welcomes Bill Harris to the Board of Directors
The Bi-National Sustainability Laboratory, a nonprofit whose mission is technology based economic development in the U.S.-Mexico border region, welcomes Dr. William (Bill) C. Harris to its bi-national Board of Directors.
Dr. William C. Harris is currently the president and chief executive officer of Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz), an $18 million economic development organization designed to stimulate Arizona's innovation economy.
Prior to joining SFAz, Dr. Harris was in Ireland serving as director general of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), a new Irish agency that helped facilitate tremendous growth in Ireland’s R&D sector during Harris’ tenure. This is largely created for helping stimulate the "Irish Miracle" which brought Ireland from last to first place in the Economic Union, shortly before the global economic crisis.
Dr. Harris also has strong experience in academia; he was vice president of research and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of South Carolina (USC). He also served at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) from 1978 to 1996, including as the director for mathematical and physical sciences (1991-1996). He earned his undergraduate degree at the College of William and Mary, and received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of South Carolina.
BNSL Executive Director Paul Maxwell said Dr. Harris’ broad experience in economic development, academics, and national and international economic policy will contribute greatly to the BNSL’s mission to turn emerging technologies into economic opportunities for U.S.-Mexico border communities.
The BNSL has offices located in Santa Teresa New Mexico, El Paso Texas, and Matamoros Tamaulipas.
=======
You are invited to attend the opening ceremony of Mountain Vista Apartments
Mayor John Cook & Councilman Carl Robinson Will be in attendance
Thursday, July 9, 2009
4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
5757 Will Ruth ( corner of McCombs)
El Paso, Texas.
Monterrey Asset Management
Light refreshments will be served
