FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

El Paso, TX, July 10, 2009 — Trae Apodaca, long-time Café Cental proprietor, announced today that he will be leaving the restaurant he opened 18 years ago to pursue other interests. Citing completion of Café Central’s sale, a process that began last December, he said that he planned to leave when the transaction closed.

“It’s the end of an era for the restaurant,” he said. “And while it’s difficult to leave something that I’ve nurtured all these year, I also believe it’s time to move on to other projects. The restaurant business is dynamic and I see new opportunities happening in El Paso every day. I want to be part of that changing landscape.”

Staying in El Paso was always part of the plan, he said, as was moving his focus from operating as a sole proprietor to considering other types of restaurant ownership and concepts.

“This is a very exciting time for the city. With the addition of the medical school and the growth at Ft. Bliss, the type of dining customer is changing. I feel the need to be flexible in order to respond to the newly evolving restaurant culture.”

Café Central originally opened in Juarez, Mexico in 1918. In the 1940’s it moved to El Paso where it opened under the name, Miguel’s Central Café. Apodaca purchased the restaurant in 1991 changing the name to Café Central and growing it into a fine dining, downtown hot spot.

“Café Central remains the heartbeat of the business community,” he said. “Deals are made every day over lunches and dinners there. I’m proud to have been part of that culture for so many years. It is with sadness that I leave this place and I will miss it, but with big changes come even bigger opportunities and with that, I say ‘adios mi amigos’.”

# # #

Contact:
Trae Apodaca
Café Central
109 N. Oregon
915.525.4300
tapodaca@cafecentral.com

***
Editor's Notes: Trae Apodaca has been a longtime contributor for El Paso Magazine. Apodaca authors "Through the Grapevine," a monthly review of new and exciting wines available in this market.