President Biden visits a longtime Phoenix Mexican restaurant. Why it was the perfect venue
President Joe Biden visited longtime Phoenix Mexican restaurant El Portal on Tuesday, Mar. 19. He was in Arizona for an early evening campaign event and to kick off a new campaign initiative called Latinos con Biden-Harris, which aims to "engage and mobilize Latino voters, communities, and leaders across the country," his reelection campaign said.
Biden noted that Latinos make up about one-quarter of Arizona’s voters.
“Anybody that doesn’t pay attention to them is really stupid,” Biden said to an audience of around 75 supporters at El Portal, a Mexican restaurant operated by longtime Democrats and community leaders Mary Rose and Earl Wilcox. He spoke for about 12 minutes, discussing the Trump tax cuts and his own “lower middle-class” background.
His choice of venue was apropos. Since taking over the now 77-year-old restaurant over two decades ago, owners Mary Rose and her husband Earl Wilcox have held voting rallies, Democratic fundraisers and gatherings for politicians such as Gov. Katie Hobbs, Rep. Ruben Gallego, former U.S. House leader Nancy Pelosi, and former U.S. Sen. Dennis DeConcini.
The couple has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to their South Phoenix community and bringing attention to the Hispanic community.
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El Portal's current owners are also longtime community activists
Located at the corner of Grant Street and Second Avenue, El Portal is open for breakfast and lunch, offering a menu of enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas and menudo.
The restaurant was originally built in 1947 for Mercedes Zapien by her sons. Her family operated it for 40 years. Earl grew up in South Phoenix, near the restaurant, and worked there as a teenager.
In the 1970s, Earl went on to become an Arizona state legislator.
Mary Rose, a fourth-generation Arizonan with Mexican heritage, was elected to the Phoenix City Council in 1983 and to the County Board of Supervisors in 1993. She also served as a Maricopa County Board of Supervisors member as well as a board member and former Chairperson for Valleywise Health System.
During her tenure on the Board of Supervisors, Mary Rose was the first and only Latina, the only Democrat and one of the few women. According to The Republic, she helped create the Human Services Campus for the unhoused, started basketball leagues for kids in underprivileged neighborhoods, and kept the park, boxing club and swimming pools open to them.
How to visit El Portal Mexican Restaurant
The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is closed on Mondays.
Details: 117 W. Grant St., Phoenix. 602-374-5549, elportalmexicanrestaurant.org.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Biden visits Phoenix Mexican restaurant El Portal, an ideal choice
