Pharr convention center to undergo renovation
PHARR — The city’s International Convention Center is undergoing an estimated $800,000 revamping.
Renovation plans for the approximately 20,000 square-foot area include building a new stage, remodeling the restrooms, upgrading the wiring and changing the lighting, said Community and Planning Director Javier Rodriguez.
The building, located at 3000 N. Cage Blvd., is primarily used as a rental facility used for weddings, trade shows, pageants, boxing and concerts.
Built in 1984, it first housed El Bingo Grande until 1989. Two years later, the city of Pharr acquired it.
Since then, it has only received minor repairs such as replacing tiles or changing the floor, but nothing as major as the current renovation, Rodriguez said.
“It’s an old building and it needs to be upgraded,” he said.
Enedina Gomez rents the convention center on a regular basis. She organizes the monthly All-City Indoor Market, which attracts an average of 150 to 175 vendors and about 2,000 customers.
She was forced to cancel four shows, including two scheduled for Aug. 8 and Sept. 5, due to the remodeling.
“I’m all for it,” she said about the renovation, but she’s worried the venue’s focus will shift with the building of a new stage and put her event and other similar trade shows on the backburner.
But Parks and Recreation Director Francisco Marin said that won’t happen.
“The idea is to promote and encourage those types of shows and activities,” Marin said. “The area is going to remain the same. If anything, it’s going to be designed to accommodate more shows.”
City leaders hope increasing the number of events at the convention center will benefit nearby restaurants and hotels and are using the hotel-motel revenue to pay for the renovation.
“These events generate an economic impact for the city,” said Marin. “People who travel to attend our trade shows and gun shows usually stay at our hotels and eat at our restaurants.”
The renovation should be finished by Oct. 1, and Gomez plans to be one of the first to use it for the already scheduled Oct. 3 All-City Indoor Market.
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Naxiely Lopez covers PSJA and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at 683-4434.
