Clarence Blackmore purchased a restaurant on U. S. 24 from Mrs. Violet Locke. Mr. Blackmore operated it as the Gala Cafe for about four years before erecting a new building in January, 1967. Wallace Furrow purchased the business September 1, 1973, and the Gala Cafe & Lounge was leased to Mr. and Mrs. Gene Wilkey January 1, 1974.
At the present time there are two taverns in El Paso. Topsy's tavern is operated by Ivan and Jim Williams on West Front Street. B & J tavern is operated by Bob Stimpert at 119 West Front Street. Stimpert does his own cooking and has fish and chicken dinners every Friday night.
In 1965 Harold Thorndyke opened a liquor store known as Thornie's Package Liquors. Thorndyke also handles a full line of cheeses, cold meats, and in recent years has added a pizza oven. Other stores which have a package liquor license include Hannah's Market, which is operated by Joanne Hannah and Feeney's Market, which is operated by Ferne Feeney. Both of these stores carry a limited supply of groceries and lunch items also.
A Texaco service station was built at U. S. 24 at Adams Street in 1962. It is presently leased from the Sunoco Company by La Verne Hinthorne. The Phillips 66 Station on U. S. 24 at Elm Street, which Alfred Wessel had operated for several years, burned in 1970 because of faulty wiring. It was not rebuilt. The newest gas station was built in 1972 for the Marathon Company on U. S. 51 at First Street. It is presently operated as a Disco station by Don Presley.
There are also stations at the intersection of U. S. 24 and U. S. 51. On these four corners are Haas Shell, operated by Jimmy Haas; Scott's Sunoco, operated by J. S. "Pat" Scott; Standard, operated by Stanley Clements; and Mobil Service, operated by Delmar Kelly. On the corner of Front and U. S. 51 is Johnson Gulf Service operated by James Johnson of Lexington. Craig's Phillips 66 is located just north of the intersection and is operated by Craig Duncan.
El Paso has two self-service laundromats. Franklin Jones opened the first one in December, 1958 at 495 N. Adams Street. A second laundromat was opened by Mrs. Rita Nohren on West Front Street in 1965, but it has since changed hands.
El Paso Milling Company is located at 158 East Front Street and is managed by Donald Ioerger. This business was operated for many years by El Paso Elevator Company, but the facilities were sold to Don Nelson in 1967. In 1972 Kenton Zellmer bought Nelson's interest in the firm. The company sells mixed feeds and supplements to livestock feeders in the area.
Heller's Store, located on U. S. Route 24, is operated by Martin "Bud" Heller. For a number of years, this concern had the John Deere dealership. In recent years, Mr. Heller has sold various types of "short line" farm equipment, lawn mowers, and some appliances. He also has an extensive service department for repairing farm machinery.
Heinold Cattle Sales operates a sale barn at the west edge of El
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