Our Story Is South Phoenix
From the building it sits in to the people who have owned and operated it, El Portal Mexican Restaurant is woven into the history of our South Phoenix neighborhood.
The Building
El Portal makes its home in a historically designated building on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Grant Street. Built after World War II, it was originally owned by the Mercedes Zapien family.
For more than 40 years, the Zapien family operated the restaurant which became a meeting place for the neighborhood. In 2007, the City of Phoenix recognized El Portal as a designated historical site for its community contribution to the City.
The historical recognition from the City of Phoenix stated the following:
“The City of Phoenix hereby acknowledged the property’s significant contribution to Phoenix history and Hispanics.”
– Signed by Mayor Phil Gordon
City of Phoenix, October 8, 2007
Our Family
In 1999 Earl and Mary Rose Wilcox purchased El Portal. Earl is a former state legislator who used to work at El Portal as a teenager. His wife Mary Rose also has held government and community positions including serving as Vice Mayor and City Councilperson for the City of Phoenix, and as a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. In addition Mary Rose serves as Board Member and former Chairperson for Valleywise Health System.
As city leaders in their own right, Earl and Mary Rose continued to keep El Portal as a place for the neighborhood and it quickly became a meeting venue for community leaders to address critical community issues facing the Hispanic community. Issues such as housing discrimination, protecting veteran rights, civil rights and other economic and education concerns.
Those community concerns were discussed and confronted by renown community leaders of the time such as the first Latino member of the Phoenix City Council Adam Diaz, and one of the founding members of the American Legion Post 41 Frank “Pipas” Fuentes, and also the first Latino federal from Arizona Judge Val Cordova. Later young Chicano leaders continued to move the Hispanic progress forward at El Portal through the advocacy of Senator Alfredo Gutierrez, community activist Pete Garcia, community activist Armando Ganderilla, community activist David Adame, and others.
State legislators and city council representatives such as Laura Pastor and Kesha Washington, elected officials like U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, Congressman Ruben Gallego, Mayor Kate Gallego, former Governor Janet Napolitano, and former Congressman Ed Pastor all have met with voters and constituents at El Portal. Several national leaders such as House of Representative leader Nancy Pelosi, and Former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini also have held important gatherings at the restaurant.
(Photo: Mary Rose & Earl Wilcox with Julian Castro, former Secretary of Housing & Urban Development)
Today the restaurant is managed by the entire Wilcox family.
Earl and Mary Rose, daughter Yvonne Rhymes and grandsons Byron, Rolando, William, Ryan and Bryan.
The Murals
Inside the building our walls come alive with murals that celebrate the pride of our community and family.
Renowned Latino artist Jose Andres Giron created the work along the main dining wall. It depicts Latina women in traditional and iconic dress throughout the ages. In one corner, we have a tribute to our Hispanic veterans serving in the Vietnam war.
Those Hispanic veterans often felt forgotten or ignored. It is our way to let all service men and women know that we see them and thank them for all they’ve done.
You’ll also see images of Hispanic leaders like Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Ceasar Chavez throughout the restaurant. In the reception area we pay tribute to our neighborhood with other historic shops and locations. And we also celebrate our family who carries the legacy of El Portal forward.
In addition to operating El Portal, the Wilcox family is also responsible for the administration and operation of the historic-designated Grant Park recreational center, located across the street from the restaurant. Year round social and sports events are scheduled for the enjoyment of the residents of Grant Park.