Some Downtown businesses to be open Sunday when City Hall demolished

Some Downtown businesses plan to take advantage of the attention there will be on Downtown El Paso on Sunday when City Hall is demolished.

“Being that there’s going to be so much attention with the demolition, we want to capitalize on that opportunity and give people and excuse to come down here and experience what Union Plaza has to offer besides night clubs,” said Norbert Portillo, the owner and chef at Tabla, a tapas restaurant and bar on Union Plaza.

Tabla is just yards away from City Hall, which is scheduled for demolition at 9 a.m. Sunday. Tabla will open that day at 10 a.m. to serve brunch.

“Depending on the weather, the dust settles within the half hour,” said Portillo, who met with the city’s project engineer before deciding to open.

ABC-7 called or visited restaurants and bars Downtown to ask if they’ll be open Sunday. More said they’d be closed.

Others see an opportunity. The Network, on 317 E Mills Ave., will also have a brunch starting at 10 a.m. So will Pot Au Feu, located at 307 E Franklin.

Mom-and-pop shop Big Bun Hamburgers will open the earliest – at 8 a.m. They may decide to open earlier, said an employee who answered the phone Wednesday.

For Portillo, opening was an easy decision. He supports the ballpark plans and Downtown development.

“It’s more of a celebration of progress I guess,” Portillo said. “Come and have brunch. The bloody Marys are awesome.”

List of Downtown businesses open Sunday after the demolition: http://bit.ly/Xt5TFD