By DUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ
The Paz Files
HARLINGEN, Texas - They're all waiting on the construction of a hunting and fishing retailer. It's as if to not see it open later this year is to not know about dreams. Harlingen, a city of some 70,000 oft-whipped denizens down in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, needs some business success like no other city in America. Even the animals have settled down, voluntarily withdrawing their yelpings while the construction boys erect that Bass Pro Shops in town.
It's been years since Harlingen felt a cool breeze, a friendly pat on the back, a dawn of the sort that brings results.
Booze has fallen into the top spot on that list of local attractions. No one speaks about local golf courses, or museums, or high-dollar cafes. Not here, never here. You can drive into town and find a parking spot right off the highway exit ramp. Someone will walk over and offer you a drink, perhaps even the cops or the priests or maybe even the reclusive chunky mayor. Harlingen is after something everyone else has: tomorrow.
"We're gasping for air, man," says a reed-thin banker in between sips of iced tea at a popular Mexican restaurant with the longest discount Lunch Menu offerings seen this side of Tijuana. "Chips?" asks the heavyset waitress. "Mas chips?"
Chips are everywhere in this town, even at church on Sunday mornings. The company that makes them up in San Antonio is thankful, for, without Harlingen, its sales would be below minimal. Chips move this city from morning to dusk. It's the National Snack of Harlingen, say the ever-smiling winos. Always free with your meal, and always plenty back in the kitchen.
Hope rests squarely on the shoulders of that Bass Pro Shops store.
If it sells, the celebration will last a year, laughing mariachis moving up and down the store's aisles as if part of the business plan. Those hopes carry the weight of every cash-starved resident who aspires for a little something extra, the luxury of an extra packet of Bugler or a better pair of non-Outlets blue jeans.
If it doesn't pan out, and there are those who say it won't, then this town will fade into oblivion, listed there on the ledger as a community that sort of tried, but lost big.
The booze may flow forever here...
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6 comments:
That's about right, Mr. editor. you hit the nail on the head. Harlingen is dreaming with that stuff. one store is not the answer. Don't they know that?
No one goes to Harlingen to drink. that town is dead after 6 p.m. it needs some action.
Harlingen has big problems. one store will not solve them. It is a city where everyone just goes along. No one wants to shake the tree, man. same people same stories same nothing.
I don't know and I don't think anyone knows, what Harlingen needs. But it need's something, people line up at the Workforce offices way before 8:00 am.
I lost count of all the empty buildings.
There are illegal's gallore. I mean, they are everywhere. I know there are no jobs, well, I mean good paying jobs.
Mr. Editor, I don't think anyone knows how to fix this broken city.
I like these articles that come out of nowhere about the Valley. there are bad nerves all over the place. Good reading here.
What about the health services in Harlingen? Is it true that doctors and hospital are much better than the Brownsville counter parts? Why is it that most specialty doctors have their offices in Harlingen?
Back in the 80's Harlingen's mall was the lower valley's mall. Now it "sucks"
Harlingen reminds me of one of those Andy Griffith towns where time stopped in certain parts of town and only a "chunk" made the jump to the 21st century.
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