The Tap

History

The Tap opened in downtown El Paso in 1956, founded by Charles Soule, a veteran who had delivered bread for Bimbo and already owned other downtown bars. After he split with a partner, he kept The Tap and a place called Le Carlo. The bar became a hangout for soldiers from Fort Bliss and later cashed checks for workers at nearby plants. In 1997 his daughter Charlene took over, on the condition that she keep the bar’s character; it remains known for cold beer and the nachos Soule started.