John Dillinger at the Gardner (1934)
In 1934, bank robber John Dillinger stayed at the Gardner Hotel while passing through El Paso, one of many colorful guests since its 1922 opening.
The stay drew attention to the hotel and its downtown bar culture.
It became part of the hotel's lore, cementing its image as a historic El Paso landmark.
Shows the hotel has long operated as a social gathering spot, so a renewed liquor license fits its century-old role.
