Some downtown business owners struggling despite peso’s recovery

Some business owners Downtown are still struggling despite the Mexican Peso’s slow recovery.

ABC-7 first reported back in December 2016 how downtown shops were struggling to keep their Mexican customers after the U.S. presidential election and the devaluation of the Peso.

Six months later, some Downtown El Paso retailers are still struggling to keep up with a decline in Juarez customers.

Gustavo Tavera, a downtown store owner ABC-7 spoke with last December, was getting ready to close one of his stores

“It’s almost time to – from six workers, just to have one. The rents are so expensive, the workers, it’s…no, no, no, no money left to pay bills,” Tavera said back in December.

His sales haven’t improved since. The storefront where ABC-7 first interviewed him is now shuttered and up for rent.

Tavera was forced to lay off employees and close both of his stores. He moved to a place half the size of his previous shop, saving enough money with rent to keep some people on payroll.

“Now I only have three in one location,” Tavera said Friday.

With the Juarez customer base shrinking, analysts and business owners say if they don’t want to close, they’ll have to pivot and cater to the American customer as well, something they say will take a lot of time and effort.

“Get this level of awareness in the minds of business owners so that they are not evolved by force when the bottom drops out or the customer base erodes,”

Businessowners are hoping to attract more El Pasoans, but also for available parking.

“I think it will (help). I think it will, but the construction needs to be finished. It’s just taking too long,” Tavera said.

For now Travera hopes his Juarez customers ignore rumors about CBP and lose their fear of crossing.

“People need to get comfortable. They need to say ‘I’m going to cross the bridge, nothing is gonna happen, nobody is going to take my visa away, I’m not doing nothin wrong'” he explained.