This building at 423 South El Paso Street was once the site of the Emporium Bar. The Roma Hotel was
located next door. Image provided by the El Paso County Historical Society
To view historic images of the present-day Mission Socorro church please search at the Library of Congress Site
Emporium Bar
423 South El Paso Street
This was the site of the Emporium Bar, or “Mexican Club,” where spies, revolutionaries, and counter-revolutionaries planned many of the intrigues of the Mexican Revolution. Newspapermen carefully observed the Mexican visitors. One frequent patron was Francisco “Pancho” Villa, who resided next door at the Hotel Roma. Although Villa abstained from alcohol, he could often be seen drinking his favorite strawberry soda at the Emporium. One day in 1913, Villa was enjoying a soda when he was approached by German Colonel Maximilian Kloss, who offered support for the revolutionary cause in exchange for the right to establish German military bases off the coast of Mexico. Although nothing came of the offer, and Villa soon left for Mexico to start the famed Division of the North, this was typical of the dealings that took place in the Casablanca-like atmosphere of the Emporium Bar during the Mexican Revolution.
Bar Emporium
Aquí funcianó el Bar Emporium, también conocido como el Club Mexicano. Fue donde espías, revolucionarios y contra-revolucionarios tramaban muchas de las intrigas de la Revolución Mexicana bajo el examen cuidadoso de los periodistas. Un cliente frecuente fue Francisco Pancho Villa, quien se hospedaba en el hotel de enseguida, El Roma. Aunque Villa no bebía alcohol, uno solía verlo tomándose su refresco favorito de fresa en el Emporium. Un día en 1913, Villa disfrutaba su refresco cuando un mariscal de campo alemán, el Coronel Maximilian Kloss se le acercó, ofreciéndole apoyar la causa revolucionaria a cambio del derecho a establecer bases militares alemanas en la costa mexicana. Aunque nada resultó de la propuesta, y Villa pronto regresó a México para establecer la reconocida División del Norte, estos tratos eran típicos de los que se realizaban en el ambiente tipo Casablanca del Bar Emporium durante la Revolución Mexicana.
For more information on Francisco "Pancho" Villa please see:
Pancho Villa (Texas Handbook)
Mexican Revolution (Texas Handbook)
For information on the Mexican revolution please see:
For an extensive bibliography on the Mexican Revolution please see:
