Mountain View North - El Paso, TX

The history of Mountain View North is intertwined with that of Fort Bliss, and the beginning of the area’s development dates to the 1960s as the base expanded with the threat of the Cold War. The massive installation now houses the famed 1st Armored Division, among other legendary units, and employs tens of thousands of service personnel and civilians throughout El Paso.

The arid landscape around the city has been populated by Native Americans for thousands of years, and the El Paso Museum of Archaeology depicts what life would have been like in the area as far back as the Ice Age. It’s located just west of Mountain Hills North, in the foothills of the Franklin Mountains.

Dyer Street hosts the highest concentration of shops in Mountain View North, and includes inexpensive breakfast and lunch at Buon Giorno Caffe. Start your day with a Giovanni Panini – an egg sandwich with spinach and provolone, or visit at lunch, and try Italian meats and cheeses with ingredients such as sun dried tomatoes and other savory edibles, all served in panino.

The Japanese ambiance and ramen at Matsuharu Japanese Restaurant allows locals to step out of the desert and into an Okinawan-themed environment with friendly owners and filling portions. The perfect presentation and authenticity at this hole-in-the-wall make up for any doubt you feel before you walk into the nondescript building, and Japanese military officers on exchange can often be seen getting a taste of home

The New Clock Restaurant sits a few blocks down Dyer Street, and booths are packed in the morning with residents wanting to fill up their stomachs with good food at a great price. Plates of huevos rancheros and carne adovada come out quickly, in addition to more traditional plates such as menudo. The friendly staff plainly loves being on the clock at this jammed El Paso breakfast destination.

Nightlife in Mountain View North is built on the thirst of soldiers and workers living in and around nearby Fort Bliss. At Hope and Anchor, beer dips to $2 a pint, and the rowdy weekend crowd jams out to a wide variety of music from the jukebox. This simple bar fills its role precisely as a spot for service people and neighborhood residents to get a pitcher.

Residents head a few miles south to catch movies at Premiere Cinema Imax and Cinemark Cielo Vista Mall 14 a few blocks further, or step onto the base and see the hits at the Grand Theatre.

Residents of Mountain View North often drive and quickly access El Paso’s network of fast-moving freeways. This walkable area has convenient shopping and eateries along Dyer Street, but smart locals stay aware after dark. Parking in the area stays free and easy to find, and spacious northeast El Paso enjoys relatively light traffic.

Residents schedule rides from Uber and other cab companies as taxis aren’t usually found roaming the area. Quick public transit exists throughout the city, and residents of Mountain View North hop on the number 41 bus then transfer to the number 35 going downtown. Alternately, the number 7 express line’s quick rides from north to south are popular for travelers going across town, and all buses arrive equipped with handy bike racks that can boost the speed of your green commute.

Free city parks exist throughout the area including Sunrise Park; popular for its stunning panorama of the eastern horizon. Residents play basketball and tennis on summer mornings, and kids play on climbing structures.

Thousands of square acres of precipitous cliffs and rolling meadows make up Franklin Mountain State Park just to the west, providing plenty of room for dogs to get in on the outdoor fun. Overnight camping and the Wyler Aerial Tramway are two of the favorite activities, and daily admission costs just $5. The yearly El Paso Puzzler bike race and trail run takes place during January along its hilly trails, and everyone from beginners to experts can choose from events including a brief 13-mile dash or a 50-mile test of will.

Rent in the area for a one-bedroom residence averages $490, just below average for El Paso, and its access to the base and Interstate 54 lets residents get quickly to work and home again. A beer runs around $4 — about average for the city. Fuel prices remain relatively inexpensive across Texas, and gas prices in the area sit around 9 percent lower than the national average, contributing to below-average cost-of-living. Public transit in the city via the Sun Metro bus line adds to inexpensive transportation, coming in at $1.50 per one-way ticket anywhere in town.

The area’s busiest thoroughfare, Dyer Street hosts the most shopping in the area, and Allstar Comics and Games sits on it a few blocks south of Mountain View North to satiate fans of superheroes and card games. This clean and modern shop has room to maneuver, and the owner hops to attention when customers ask for special orders. If you know the kind of comics you’re targeting for your collection, the store is happy to guide and assist.

Premier Uniform and Tactical Gear a few miles south has everything you need to stay outfitted for outdoor recreation and whatever else comes your way. It carries an array of surplus military equipment, including rugged boots and outerwear for hiking, and accessories like gloves and flashlights for overnight excursions into the Franklin Mountains.

Family-owned Carter’s Flowers has been providing El Paso with colorful bouquets since 1937, and the assortment of traditional and inspired arrangements can communicate everything from yearning affection or tasteful rejection. Unlike most flower shops, it oversees all design and delivery.

Residents of Mountain View North stock up on groceries and other home essentials at Albertson’s, just north of the neighborhood. An El Paso favorite, Bryant’s Market just south sells high quality produce and an unusually large selection of baby formula. Saturdays are the time for the Downtown Artist and Farmers Market and its selection of farm-fresh produce and local art. It takes place all year, and local musicians provide background music.