Century-old hotel takes one step in alcohol licensing; final approval and opening not yet confirmed
August 25th, 2026: TABC license issuedNew here? Follow stories to track developments over time. Create a free account to get updates when stories you care about change.
Overview
Updated 1 hour agoEl Paso's oldest continuously operating hotel picked up a state alcohol license. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) issued the Gardner Hotel a BG-category permit on August 25, 2026.
The hotel, open since 1922 at 311 E Franklin Ave, runs private rooms and hostel dorms downtown. A liquor license is a single permit in a longer process; it hints at expanded food-and-drink service but doesn't confirm any bar or restaurant opening.
Why it matters
A new alcohol license at El Paso's oldest hotel hints at expanded downtown food-and-drink service.
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Organizations Involved
El Paso's oldest continuously operating hotel, offering private rooms and hostel dorms downtown.
State agency that licenses and regulates alcohol manufacture and sales in Texas.
Timeline
1922 August 2026
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TABC license issued
Latest RegulatoryTexas Alcoholic Beverage Commission issues a BG-category license to the Gardner Hotel.
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Dillinger stays at the hotel
HistoricalBank robber John Dillinger stays at the Gardner while in El Paso.
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Gardner Hotel opens
MilestoneHotel opens at 311 E Franklin Ave, later becoming El Paso's longest-running hotel.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
John Dillinger at the Gardner (1934)
In 1934, bank robber John Dillinger stayed at the Gardner Hotel while passing through El Paso, one of many colorful guests since its 1922 opening.
The stay drew attention to the hotel and its downtown bar culture.
It became part of the hotel's lore, cementing its image as a historic El Paso landmark.
Shows the hotel has long operated as a social gathering spot, so a renewed liquor license fits its century-old role.
Cormac McCarthy's residence (1970s)
Author Cormac McCarthy lived at the Gardner Hotel during parts of the 1970s while working in El Paso.
McCarthy's time there tied the hotel to one of America's major novelists.
The hotel's literary history adds to its downtown cultural identity.
The literary history ties the hotel to downtown El Paso's cultural identity.
