FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 17, 2026
Downtown Employee Appreciation Day Celebrates Downtown Workforce with 1,500 Free Meals
DOWNTOWN EL PASO, TX — The El Paso Downtown Management District (DMD) celebrated the people who help keep Downtown El Paso moving during its annual Downtown Employee Appreciation Day, held Thursday, September 17.
Throughout the day, employees from across Downtown gathered on Mills Avenue for free food, activities, giveaways and opportunities to connect with their Downtown coworkers.
The 2026 celebration included:
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1,500 free meals, including 500 breakfasts and 1,000 lunches
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600 paletas and ice cream treats distributed during the afternoon Ice Cream Social
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Food purchased from 18 Downtown restaurants and businesses
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Free massages provided by Desert Spirit Spa
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Jumbo Connect Four, Jenga, mini golf, karaoke and interactive activities
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A giant Downtown coloring page and interactive “Why I Love Downtown El Paso” board
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DTEP swag giveaways throughout the day
The celebration continued after work at Rockstar Burger Bar, where Downtown employees gathered for Happy Hour and Sally the Alligator’s 2nd Birthday Celebration, featuring free nachos, cupcakes, drink specials and limited-edition Sally the Alligator lapel pins and Downtown El Paso posters.
“Downtown Employee Appreciation Day is our opportunity to recognize the people who show up every day and make Downtown work,” said Joe Gudenrath, Executive Director of the El Paso Downtown Management District. “Whether they work in an office, restaurant, hotel, store or anywhere else Downtown, this celebration is our way of saying thank you and giving employees a chance to enjoy the community they help support.”
Downtown Employee Appreciation Day also directly supports the Downtown business community, with DMD purchasing food from 18 Downtown restaurants and businesses for the day’s breakfast and lunch offerings.
The 2026 Downtown Employee Appreciation Day was presented by El Paso Electric and made possible through the generous support of Franklin Mountain Property Services, WestStar, Paso del Norte Health Foundation, Helen of Troy, Raising Cane’s, Hunt, El Paso Community Foundation, Desert Spirit Spa and Jarritos.
The El Paso Downtown Management District extends its thanks to all of the Downtown employees, volunteers, sponsors, partners and businesses who helped make the 2026 celebration possible.
More information:
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Media Contact
Ivan Bernal
Marketing and Communications Manager
Cell: (915) 832-1544
Ibernal@elpasodmd.org