The Pink Store – A Mecca of Mexican Art and Cuisine a Short Drive from El Paso

Just over the port of entry from Columbus, New Mexico, about an hour and a half drive from El Paso is a delightful shopping and dining destination known as The Pink Store.

I first heard about it years ago and made a mental note to check it out one day, and, well, you know how mental notes go sometimes.

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Pretty in Pink

I was reminded of the place after asking for day trip suggestions on social media and The Pink Store came up quite a bit. So I did some digging into the place.

The Pink Store is in Puerto Palomas, Mexico across the border from Columbus, New Mexico some 90 miles or so from El Paso on New Mexico Highway 9.

As soon as you cross, you’ll see the colorful building to your left. As its name suggests, The Pink Store stands out with a striking pink facade that Barbie would definitely approve of.

Photos of its interior and decor give me Juarez Mercado and El Paso Saddleblanket vibes. The store is a treasure trove of handcrafted pottery, fabrics, decorative items, furniture, ceramics, silver, jewelry, and art.

Dining and Day Drinking

If you work up and appetite browsing and shopping, The Pink Store also has a first-rate Mexican restaurant. Tacos, nachos, enchiladas, flautas; all the typical Mexican food we’re accustomed to is on the menu. There’s also seafood, steaks, and burgers if you’re not feeling the traditional cuisine.

And margaritas. Get the margaritas, I hear. You won’t regret it, they say. Or maybe you will, depending on how tequila affects you.

If you’re up for a day trip and looking for a genuine Mexican shopping escapade that’s not Juarez, you might want to put The Pink Store in Palomas on your day trip destination bucket list. It's open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

How to Get There

The Pink Store is in Puerto Palomas, Mexico across the border from Columbus, New Mexico some 90 miles or so from El Paso on New Mexico Highway 9.

There is parking on the U.S. side by Family Dollar if you don’t want to drive over.