BROWNSVILLE/MATAMOROS: What We Saw In The Texas/Mexico Sister Border Towns

[@felisha6704]

fun fact: City of Brownsville is ranked as the 16th safest cities in the nation as of 2022. Love my city and downtown has been changing new bars, new restaurants, lofts, offices, art gallery, bookstores etc.

[@fame130]

I’m originally from Brownsville but moved to Houston when I was 12 years old in 1992 and it’s sad to see Brownsville downtown the way it is, in the 80’s and early 90’s it was a bustling downtown with lots of people shopping and eating. Though they are trying to revitalize it again it’s still a long way from it’s glory days.. I hope with Space X and other businesses moving in it boosts the economy for them again. Though Houston is my home I will always love Brownsville

[@aliciasolano]

I agree, I also grew up in Brownsville and it should be a blooming city by now. It is a border town to Mexico, it has a port, the beach is 20 minutes away where tourists come from all parts of the world, but it is sadly governed by the wrong people ( won’t mention the political party, but you get the idea) and the cartels do have a strong hold of it too. Thus the reason why it hasn’t grown and it will not grow until we do something about it and change it.

[@aquiles2375]

@@aliciasolano That same party runs all of Texas and is why we have so many gun deaths.

[@brendad3570]

Keep in mind 200 to 300 people die in this each day from fent**** o*

[@jamesgruender]

I am looking for a small amount of unrestricted owner financed land with in ten miles of Brownsville Texas

[@Drdemoman07]

I have a 36 year old cousin who lives in Houston

[@meanmrbrownsville]

I moved to Brownsville in 1966 from Seattle. The poverty and income numbers do not reflect what is actually a very high quality of life here with a great climate, friendly people and very low cost of living. Crime is low, but violent crime is very low as most crimes here are burglaries. You did not actually discover the higher end of businesses and restaurants on the north side of town. One other factor: multigenerational living is very common in the Hispanic community. Usually, several generations pool their resources and live in a nice home despite low incomes.

[@donpet8258]

From seattle myself. On my MC working my way to there now to see about living. Thanks ! Nice to hear real experiences from someone that actually lives there !!

[@TheRenaissanceAmazon]

Doesn’t seem like that now….

[@truss6282]

​@don pet so did you ever make it

[@donpet8258]

@@truss6282 travel on MC. Was in Texas when u had that snow So ran to friends in deming NM. Hang for awhile. I’ll get there eventually. :)

[@jvg3fiona]

This channel doesn’t focus on nicer neighborhoods- maybe a quick pass by and mention, but overall focus is blight, abandonment, poverty, etc.

[@sme_sage1241]

You were in downtown Brownsville when you crossed over the bridge. There are lots of other streets other than Elizabeth St (Main Street)with very interesting old homes and buildings, as well as the old city cemetery. Also, the Stillman house and the old railroad station, both museums.

[@livelaughlove7094]

I've got family relatives as well as my little sister buried at the old cemetery. Not on the Monroe side entrance but the police street entrance. :( It's gotten so bad. Drug addicts jump that white wall to shoot up. Can't even safely go visit during the day by yourself. :(

[@Anibyte7670]

Love this video. I grew up here all my life finally moved out from Brownsville to finish my engineering degree. I’m a lot younger than most people in the comment section. Graduated class of 2019. Brownsville will always be my home it’s not always the prettiest or safest place but it’s very special to me. Glad I got to see this video.

[@olgatinajero5832]

❤️👍

[@rubenzamora1913]

you all were looking l For Downtown jnot knowing you started the video there All those streets with president Names And Elizabeth St Love Brownsville I am from there Great Video keep them going

[@kimiastewart6293]

I visited here in 1978, just 7 years old I only really remember South Padre and Matamoros but the one thing I do remember about Brownsville is the zoo so I think that it is really neat to see it now in 2022, 44 years later, thanks so much 😊👍

[@1970Mom]

I moved out of Brownsville 32yrs ago but still live in the Valley & now downtown looks so sad. I had to pause the video cuz I couldn't stop crying. It looks so dead. Downtown used to be old, but historic. About 15yrs ago we called it Mini Matamoros cuz it was becoming rundown. Now it's crumbling. The Majestic Theatre used to be immaculate. It had a regal staircase that lead to the 2nd floor's balcony seating & my mom worked as an usher there as a teenager in the late 50s. By my teens, in the mid 80s, it had become the $1 theater & the balcony had been converted into a 2nd theater, but the main floor remained it's original large size. The women's restroom originally had a sitting area & was tended to by assistants.

[@jovan4015]

It gets really really active during occasions. Here it seems like they went to downtown during work / school hours cause it's not this dead after 3:30 etc.

[@aquiles2375]

lol wow I bet my parents worked with your mom, My dad was and usher and my mom sold ticket and worked the concession stand.

[@thetruerain_7902]

Wow, im an all time Brownsville residence, but that is like History. Thaks for sharing.

[@maggiegarza2264]

Yo vivo en Brownsville y si,. El centro quedó en el olvido 🥺

[@ryanvela608]

UTRGV recently bought the theatre and now be used as a performing arts center

[@danielleija4726]

Glad to see people touring the are. I saw your previous video as well I’m actually from the area and it’s somewhat funny when things don’t make sense to other people but seems like you want to learn. If you are ever in the area again I would be glad to meet up and show y’all around & give you a real understanding of the border life.

[@maggiegarza2264]

Hola. 👍👍👍 De paso me invitas a mí 🥰

[@TheBeholdersEye]

In the 80s, I grew up frequenting and enjoying the downtown shopping experience, since we still live a few minutes from the area. There were so many stores, like Kroger's, Azizs, McCrory's, LaTienda Amigo, many restaurants and cafe's, HEB, Thrift shops (called secondhand stores), The Majestic Cinema, book shops, antique shops and who could forget the grand Amigoland Mall on Mexico Blvrd (had its own Cinemark too). The entire 4 square mile area was a busy place that came to life every morning at about 6am. This decade was when things began to take a drastic twist and changed the fate of Brownsville. Mexican consumers had always outnumbered the American consumers in the downtown area. So, as the peso struggled with devaluation fluctuations in the mid to late 80s, the two major devaluations of the peso were what hit the Brownsville economy hard. Then in July 1988, the three floors of La Tienda Amigo collapsed right after a ferocious thunderstorm that flooded the stores roof and caused it to come crashing down and killing 14 shoppers and injuring 47 more. This 3-day recovery and rescue operation was so traumatic to the city that it caused fear of other old buildings collapsing. This made consumers shy away from the area. Two years year later in March of 89' a UT Austin student was kidnapped during Spring Break in Matamoros and launched a mass search for his whereabouts. Events unfolded revealing a macabre end for the young man. He was found to have been sacrificed in a small ranch in Matamoros, in a Santeria ritual. The priestess was none other than a young college student herself, from Brownsville, and Brownsville began to be looked upon as an undesirable place to visit. Businesses closed, people moved away from doing business or shopping in the downtown area and the expansion of the upper side of Brownsville began. Amigoland Mall struggled and succumbed to the disinterest of the public, despite its many attempts to bring businesses back. Eventually it was sold to the university, while the newer Sunrise Mall- on the upper side- boomed with business opportunities. People just didn't want to be close to downtown anymore. The only thing that has kept the downtown area from completely dying are the diehard believers that lobby to keep it alive, our annual Charro Days Parade that brings north of 20,000 citizens to the area, Sombrero Festival that brings vendors to the area and the 20th Century ride carnival setting up on the old Amigoland Mall grounds, all combining strengths to celebrate the Mexican American culture. Not sure why the city decided to include the Palm Blvrd area as part of the "Downtown" area...bcus Brownsvillians do not consider it so. The place in which you began your video is part of the downtown area to us. That is bcus it's the original town site. (Tid bit fact: I heard you mention Major Jacob Brown, well, where you began your video, you were right across the street from the Jacob Brown auditorium. It once belonged to the city, but it was bought by the University in the recent decades and serves as the venue for their theatre arts dept, as a concert hall for their music dept, and is rented out to various organizations) So, back in the day... people would go down to the township to do business or barter. Brownsville was largely a farming and military community, so everything was rural outside of the downtown market area. Downtown is where farmers markets were set up, city hall, courthouse, the prison, and the cathedral were located all within a mile radius. Aside from the Cathedral- Immaculate Conception Church- the rest of the buildings have been recycled into city offices, historical sites, wholesale stores, mason lodge, etc. throughout the years. The area marked as downtown on your map is actually right outside the downtown area, place where "old money" first set up their homes. Thats why you saw many old but beautiful homes. We actually got to hear your wife mention that her impression was that millionaires lived there. She wasn't wrong. Well, the original community built their homes there because it was easier to live in close proximity to where their businesses were. As Brownsville grew, the economy was boosted and attracted millionaire philanthropists like the Sams and Porter families. You were actually a hop, skip and a jump from my home and one of their greatest contributions, the Gladys Porter Zoo. The only zoo in the Rio Grande Valley. Out of the 18 zoos in Texas (not counting wildlife ranches etc.), the nearest zoo to us is about 3 1/2 hrs/230 miles away in Victoria, Texas. The Sams and Porters contributed many historical namesake buildings still in operation. Aside from the zoo, we have Dean Porter Park, Camille Lightner (nee Sams) Playhouse (a theater for plays), Sams Memorial Stadium where we enjoy our very own version of "Friday night lights", Gladys Porter High School, and a building at the University. They contributed many other buildings across Texas too. Well...things just changed for Brownsville. The "It" place is now in the upper or north side of Brownsville. Next time you stroll through Brownsville or the Rio Grande Valley, consider having a local, with historical knowledge, accompany you. Having someone with that knowledge will enrich your and your viewers' experience and offer insight, on what the areas you venture in to, are actually called or known for. Have fun. * P.S. Oh, almost forgot, perhaps you should look into the thousands of spooky apparitions of headless soldiers in the old Fort Brown (on the University grounds), reports of creatures roaming the downtown alleys between the buildings, tunnels under the downtown area, and testimonials of frightening experiences at the hand of ghosts at the old morgue (next to Fort Brown). You could make a whole series out of those alone.

[@bolivarrubiano5798]

Hi Rivera, I also grew up in Brownsville, born in 1957, I went to Sharp elementary, Stell for one year and then from 7th to 12 grade in SJA. I graduated in 1975. I joined the Navy and the day after graduation 28 May 1975 was off to boot camp and have only visited Brownsville on and off since then. My father owned a furniture in Matamoros but lived in Brownsville. This KZbin popped up in my searching and was a nice stroll down memory lane.

[@bethmcright9731]

All. Very Interesting..... Enjoyed the Video 🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@bananabanana1932]

Wow!! You really know the history of Brownsville, and in a chronological order, super impressed!

[@lauraknight7066]

Thank you for this additional info. ❤ I’m planning to move there in a couple months. With these visuals & your history I have a better understanding of the area.

[@MrStayOnTop5683]

​@@lauraknight7066 Well hope you enjoy Texas and especially the area.

[@elireal8266]

The large building across from the capitol is the El Jardin Hotel. My grandmother used to talk about. I think in was it's it's prime in the 40s. A lot of the golden era Mexican actors would come there. American famous people stayed there too. My grandmother used to say that place was beautiful. The area you started walking is the downtown area. Not the parking lot where you were parked in.

[@1970Mom]

Yeah. It was sad when it burned a few years ago.

[@OutlawCommonFolk]

I like this channel because I feel like I am getting see places that I would otherwise never see

[@waleyefish9026]

When you crossed the Rio Grande river going into Mexico, it reminded me of the movie "No Country for Old Men". Enjoyed the Video👍

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Now that you say that, it does. Cool! Loved that movie. :)

[@erikmendez6081]

Actually A day in Old Mexico with Robert Duval was filmed in Brownsville for several scenes.

[@OutlawCommonFolk]

I like this channel because I feel like I am getting to see places that I would otherwise never see

[@lizc.8318]

I agree with you O…

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the great comment. It's exactly what we're trying to do, so it's the best compliment you can give us. :)

[@mr.richiej]

Man I really appreciate this work yall have done .I have never seen anyone do this .Thank you for the great work

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks for watching!

[@lisan4837]

So many memories going to the Majestic theater. What a cool video. Thanks for sharing.

[@alexandralovesgoats3360]

Love the tour of Brownsville and stats. Super cool to see you go into Mexico. Nice to know what is needed to enter and exit. Your meal at Vermillion looked fantastic!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the kind words, Alexandria.

[@WiseChristianChannel]

Very compassionate of you Nicki to bless the disabled guy in wheelchair, God bless you two really enjoy the videos! I’ve always wanted to go West to Texas and into Mexico haven’t done it yet and I’m now 62, maybe someday, so thanks for taking us there!!

[@roxanntamez4172]

I love, and miss my hometown, in the Rio grand valley de Texas. The food is amazing

[@jennylynn82173]

Thank you very much! This experience is interesting on many levels! Thank you for the opportunity to travel with you two! 😊

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for watching, Jennifer. :)

[@kiritpatel4017]

Joe, Thanks for doing great public service. Wife & I enjoy your channel very much. It makes us able to see places along with their stats that we wouldn't have seen. Please keep up the good work!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thanks 👍

[@tabbykitty68]

I'm live here in South Tx. Just a few minutes away from Brownsville. Lots of history here. Thanks for touring and uploading. 👍

[@maggiegarza2264]

Me gustó mucho este reportaje! Yo tengo más de 25 años de vivir en Brownsville Tx. y no me veo vivir en ningún otro lugar,. Esta es una ciudad muy tranquila al menos a mí que no me gusta el bullicio ni las grandes ciudades llenas de movimiento y más. muy poco cruzo a Matamoros no sé porque me estresa pero es también una linda ciudad, Mi familia de otras partes le llaman a Brownsville (pueblo bicicletero) 🚲 😆 pero no me importa! Yo aquí me siento muy en paz! Saludos y Bendiciones 🙏 🥰

[@viajandoenmotoangeldelgado7291]

Hola maggie garza una pregunta quiero hacer un viaje en abril desde Veracruz tengo más de 10 años que no voy y en este video veo la elizabeth muy apagada quisiera saber si aún se puede ir de compras a esa calle y la washintong como antes tu que dices me conviene y no? Se que amas bronwsville pero quisiera saber bien bien como está la cosa

[@maggiegarza2264]

@@viajandoenmotoangeldelgado7291 Efectivamente está muy apagado el centro de Brownsville,. Muchas tiendas cerraron a causa del COVID y ya no las abrieron. Además ya no viene tanto la gente como antes. Pero para pasear e ir a la Isla del Padre está muy bien! Te mando saludos 👍

[@brightramz2394]

the street Alvaro Oregon used to be full of ppl at night were they drive around eat and go to clubs on that street. It went down because of the violence. But now they are opening restaurants and clubs . I passed by this last Thursday and it looked so amazing how a community got together to bring back all those business and make that street attractive again..

[@ginatorres677]

El Roll; I miss those days.

[@americanstarman4418]

There's cameras everywhere and there's people watching the streets and if they see people acting crazy they get close and find out what's going on .

[@Plimothrock]

LS-Another great video-Glad you made it back to the USA after your venture into old Mexico-You and your wife stay well and safe and keep posting!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you! We will do our best. :)

[@jljoe3807]

I was rise in beautiful Brownsville back than 70s - 2000's+ yrs. Went to homer hanna high school proud to attend. Good friends get together dance with neighbors. Now it not the same but that my home town. South PADRE island homies. 🙋 💘 u all God bless all.

[@MrCorrndog]

Its fun being able to see my hometowns through different eyes. Thank you for sharing!

[@sherriepierce4193]

The vegan place is called Veggie Del Sol. They are not out of business and they have delicious food!! They also have a location on South Padre Island.

[@lynn-tj3ik]

I miss that place,the people, food and culture. Love you Brownsville.

[@bitcoinpirate3905]

I lived in Brownsville 10 years. Just a few blocks down from where u were filming. I am in psja. Next to McAllen. Been here since 1989.

[@hassan1212121]

Here is Hassan, I crossed the international bridge from Laredo TX in 2012. Same experience they did not ask for ID or passport. We just crossed to enter the states by different visa. There is nostalgia. Hassan from Saudi Arabia watching and appreciate your work

[@Eduardo-js7fl]

Im from Brownsville, thank you for showing my home town, live in Florida now, but go there for vacations

[@skadforlife3817]

Excellent video again 👍🏻 loved seeing the border towns and just to see the border fence just right there at the edge of town was astonishing. Brownsville looked nice and clean with some lovely architecture. Kind regards from the Scottish highlander ✊🏻❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you. :)

[@LuckyGuu]

@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip thanks for granting my request! I haven't watched the video yet but I hope you enjoy the meal there

[@sandra1575]

Thank you for the walk, I grew up in Matamoros back in the 90s and would walk downtown Brownsville every weekend... It so sad to see it on a decline 😭

[@victoria9960]

I also used to live in Brownsville, and I am shocked at the way it looks now. It almost looks like a ghost town. On Saturdays we used to go downtown and do shopping and now it looks like most of the buildings are closed and not even kept up. what a shame!! The brown building that has the ETSG letters used to be the JC Penney.

[@catholiccrusader5328]

Thanks much. I've always want to see these two cities and thanks to you and Nicole I have! GOD bless.

[@winstondeocampo699]

Mexican food in the Rio Grande Valley in cities like Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen is the bomb.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I agree.

[@remyferrari8501]

Truth!

[@jeremytaylor4780]

yesss

[@dannielfloresi23]

Can't compete with San Antonio or Houston though.😉

[@coreymickanuik8199]

I never realized how many people live in that area, cheap housing and low crime are a bonus these days. Thanks for the tour!

[@joebanks3698]

@@musicdrip927 The cartels' kidnapping and and killings are pretty bad in Matamoros but so far they've kept it on their side. Just have to be aware and not get caught down there after dark.

[@pablosanchez6558]

Some businesses on the US border towns have experienced extortion but it’s mostly in Matamoros, MX

[@rxvertthief4489]

@@joebanks3698 I heard a case about the cartel where they killed, put their victim in a suitcase, and left it on one of the Brownsville boarders. Craziest story I’ve heard about the cartel in this area.

[@georgesheffield1580]

Cheap jobs ,no support from the state or from the republicans

[@Jenjane55]

I attended TSC college in 87. I remember places like Kress on my walk to class. I used to sit at the bus terminal on market square and board to go to Amigo land mall. There was a tragic accident that happened in a shopping center around that year. It rained heavily and the roof of a department store collapsed killing many people. I was sitting on my bed at my grandmas on Adams st and felt the ground shake. I used to walk past the Magestic theater and stare at the movie posters.

[@1970Mom]

Yeah, it the La Tienda Amigo that collapsed at the corner of 12th/Elizabeth in the early summer if '88. I had just graduated high school & a classmate's dad was painting inside when it fell & was one of the deaths that occured. They videoed literally a block away from it.

[@redrocket604]

Did you also remember the kidnapping of Mark Kilroy in Matamoros?

[@marinavon7623]

My great grandmother use to go the Majestic Theater and I shopped there after it was turned into a mini mall.

[@alejandroibarra9590]

20:06 that bar called the White House with the silver letters (now building's owner looking to rent/sell) used to be a great location for spring breakers back in the 80s 😎 jacked with pools 🎱, good cheap beer and great atmosphere, was called London Pub

[@giovanniferrioli3512]

Thank you for been fair on when talking about the stats i just recently moved back to Brownsville after 15 years in San Antonio and all though is still Texas Brownsville leaving is something completely different, you said is like leaving I’m Mexico, no it’s not it’s even better :) we get the best of both sides. Very interesting fact that we don’t get the worst of both sides. Because matamoros has had horrible scary crime rates in the last years but this doesn’t filter to Brownsville. When you are crossing the bridge back to brownsville is so strange that as soon as you are on USA land you feel safe.

[@jorgeo.e3211]

this is a great video, a tour of Downtown Browntown...thats hiw locals call the city, i lived in Brownsville 24 years, and cant wait to go back, i know is changing a lot lately, new residents from all over, the big old building 🏫 in downtown, on the Ross block, is the El Jardin Hotel, used to belong to my layenwife cousin's, in the old days famous and rich people stayed there and also mexican people buying electronics and whiskey to resell in Mexico, i know the story of many buildings, ans also worked restoring several local houses, the big old houses in Levee st, St chatles st, and Washington st...well thanks 👍 for rhe memory trip...

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Great comment, Jorge, and yes, it seems like the older area was the real downtown. It was weird were GPS had it..

[@surinfarmwest6645]

Reminds me of some of the smaller border crossing towns around here. Lots of old colonial buildings (the French were in Laos and Cambodia) that are just waiting for some love and attention. The Rio Grande looks more like a trickle, I was expecting to see something like the Mekong, perhaps I've watched too many cowboy films when they are swimming over with the horses. As always, very interesting to see what real life is like from a real perspective. I was amazed when you mentioned the high poverty/low crime rate, what is it that has achieved that? There didn't seem that much vandalism of the empty shops either and artwork on the side of the theatre was rather impressive. Roll on the next trip!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the great comment, Surin. :)

[@El.Matamoros.]

Yeah unlike some things might have you believe border communities on the U.S side are actually very safe.

[@siroyalflush]

I'm a native of Brownsville & the Rio Grande water level is usually much higher except there was an extreme drought at the time this was filmed.. Great Vlog! Next time you're in town make sure you visit the Oyster Bar downtown it was across the street from the Capitol building & Rutledge 🍔 ... Those two along with Vermillion Watering Hole are the 'Staples of Brownsville'!

[@Jenjane55]

The movie Back roads with Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones was filmed near the area of the Oyster bar and the Capital building. Across from the Oyster bar was a parking lot that my step dad owned in the 70s... When it was sold it became a bank.

[@chelita41]

Downtown was where she bought the shoes. Where the Magestic theater was and Kress.

[@jflashrodriguez1506]

Always funny seeing out of towers. I first went to Matamoros when I was 10 and it was different when I went back at 30 . It's no Puerto Vallarta. I used to go to the Majestic theatre in 1980 and it was almost run down then . Zero theatres left downtown . And I doubt many people have Netflix. God resides here , helping people .

[@redherring5532]

This was my hometown! You all passed by my grandma's jewelry store

[@leticiatucker8845]

My dad, was a ticket taker collecting the movie tickets, entering the theater, at the capitol, as a teenager.

[@debmommabear73]

If you ever go back to Matamoros you'll want to get a taxi into downtown where the marketplace is. That's why you didn't find a lot of people walking around over there because the main shopping and other stuff is towards the downtown area.

[@Jenjane55]

The El Jardin hotel is the empty building by the Oyster bar. As a kid my mom gave me about $12.00 to purchase a Charlie's Angels tote bag that I saw in one of the stores below the hotel.

[@PGomez-qj5yj]

I know Brownsville very well. I was laughing towards the end when you guys were driving looking for the downtown area. You had already been there lol. That's where the majestic theater is. That's downtown also city hall area. Very fun video!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Dumb GPS! LOL.

[@1970Mom]

The large building across from the old Colonial Theatre was the El Jardin Hotel. It was already in disrepair but was destroyed completely in 2017 by fire. The Rutledge Hamburgers Restaurant literally used to be an opening between two buildings that they covered with a roof & put a gate for the door. I can't believe it actually has a storefront now. It was THE BEST tiny greasy little burgers sold & placed in a little brown bag. The environment would disgust the average "nonlocal" person. I will respectfully leave it to your imagination, but they DID pass inspections. I'm SOOOO glad I got to take my daughter & took a photo in their original set up. The Immaculate Cathedral Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic Church in town. My great-great uncle donated either the bell or one of the stained-glass windows (can't remember anymore) back in the 1800s when it was being built. He owned a stagecoach taxi service at the time. All these memories are so cool.

[@Unbridled13]

I live in Brownsville less than 2 miles from border to Matamoras . We do not go to Matamoras due to kidnappings for ransom. We go to Nuevo Progresso border town, it is safer. Check online for current conditions before crossing the border.

[@fely08]

You should visit Brownsville when they have "Charro day" last Saturday of February if I'm not mistaken. Is a big event, they have a big parade.

[@feliperodriguez6885]

I'm from Brownsville but now live in Georgetown, tx, north of Austin, alot of shops and restaurants closed during the pandemic, many have never reopened.

[@roverworld7218]

I lived in Brownsville a long time, and I remember loving to go downtown as a tween/early teen in the late 80s and early 90s, used to love the Soda Fountain at Kress. Now it looks so sad, but it's not the only downtown getting run down. It's been happening throughout the USA for decades, it just got a little later and a little more gradually to Brownsville. It was fine until around 2000 and then wham!

[@maggiegarza2264]

Te acuerdas de esa cafetería que se derrumbó?

[@UweJMeyer]

Good evening you both, what for amazing pictures, and, nothing has changed.My wife and I have visited Del Rio and the town in Mexico, Ciutad Acuna by taken a bus in 2000 on our honeymoon trip from New York to San Francisco. The pictures are as the time stands still.We also have taken the next bus back into the US.It was a little bit difficult to get a stamp in to the passport, that we have been in Mexico.Great pictures, and we wait for more. Greatings from your German fan 👍 🇺🇸 🇩🇪.

[@regioaleman]

Ach du scheiße! Ein Deutscher war in meiner Heimatstadt Ciudad Acuña, Mann, die brauchen unbedingt original deutsches Essen, einen Döner zum Beispiel, ich hoffe, dass Poldi eines Tages dort einen seiner Mangal-Läden eröffnet. Greetings from Koln von einem Mexikaner der sich in good Old Gerrmany veirrt hat.

[@BarryKaiser-rg9ge]

I would love to visit Brownsville. One day.....and go to the OLD CEMETERY

[@yolandachavez3248]

Thank you for showing your video of my town I was born in, has not been there in a lot of yrs.but at 81 yrs old still remember my town. now I live in Phoenix

[@JoshuaWDelano]

Brownsville is lovely. Spent a lot of time there and in Matamoros the last 3 years. Nice people, low cost of living, and very laid back.

[@ryansantaana]

There is so much more to Brownsville that what is shown.

[@mariaalvarado9855]

Port Isabel cafe is my favorite they have good breakfast and lunch very delicious 😋.staff are so friendly..we used to live in Brownsville Texas but we decided to move to Fort Worth TX (job) an also oyster bar in downtown they been there for a long time very delicious n friendly...ok of course the beach beautiful and going walking shopping etc..... Love

[@JerryGutierrez-op5pl]

I left in 1994 and moved to California. Biggest mistake of my life. Brownsville I miss you and will never forget. Hopefully one day I can come home.

[@giovanniferrioli3512]

Market square during night, it looks beautiful, we also are on the Bird migrating route. We get to hear and see many different types of Birds 2 rounds every year and lately sometimes i get waken up by the parrots early in the mornings. Its a great feeling walking out and look up to trees or electrical cables full or singing Birds rigth on top or your head :)

[@esthermedellin8283]

Back in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s the downtown area was bustling!! Jc Penny, Sears, and other fancy stores were all downtown. Needless to say the downtown area is now a ghost town. Most businesses have move to the north part of Brownsville. This video brings back many memories!! I remember going with my mom every year to downtown and her buying all my school clothes.. The good old days!!😊👍

[@josmotherman591]

I was working in Brownsville in the mid, 70's. I woke up one Sunday morning with a hangover that would kill a mule. So I got in the car to go get a Coke. I didn't really know how to get around, and I ended up at the Border, and crossed into Matamoros. It didn't look like that. After driving around these terribly narrow, rutted roads for about 15 minutes, I made it back to the Bridge. I was the only car and only person on it. I told the Border Patrol.guy what I had done, and he just looked at me like I was the usual asshole, searched my car, searched my trunk, looked under the hood. Then let me cross. My mouth felt and tasted like I had been eating road kill. I finally found a gas station with a pop machine and a pack of BC powder. Things down there were not like they are now. There wasn't much there. Except a lost, sick, hungover Gringo that felt like he was dying. Lol. Haven't thought of that in years..

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Great comment. Thank you for sharing the experience. And I agree about Matamoros. I crossed with my then wife in 1987, and Matamoros was vibrant and lively. I was pretty shocked at the start of it now.

[@chunkdadeuce]

lol

[@rodrigolopez2534]

Was it during war ?

[@josmotherman591]

@@rodrigolopez2534 That whiskey was having a war in my head. Lol. Other than that, I didn't fight any wars in the US, or Mexico.

[@JP-pl9mv]

@Lord Spoda where Is she now?

[@gabrielgonzalez1748]

You were in downtown Brownsville right before you went into Matamoros. There are some excellent restaurants downtown and the UTRGV/TSC campus is beautiful. It’s the old Fort Brown. Next time in Matamoros take a taxi and go into downtown (La Plaza Principal) it’s a ways from the bridge. Terra’s is an awesome restaurant in downtown Brownsville.

[@davidcross4384]

I live here in the Valley. The crime is low. Great place to raise a Family.

[@maggiegarza2264]

Es verdad a mi me encanta Brownsville,. No podría vivir en ningún otro lugar. Saludos!

[@maggiegarza2264]

@@musicdrip927 Hola 🥰

[@maggiegarza2264]

@@musicdrip927 Y eso? Que tiene que ver? Yo no lo considero así. Lo bonito se lleva por dentro. Estoy bien. Gracias 👍

[@9722353333]

I grew up in Brownville in the 70's and 80's, but I moved to Dallas Texas. I enjoyed your video. And Brownsville Downtown, still empty. The most of the stores are closed before the pandemic. My family still lives in Brownsville, and I travel over there maybe, twice a year. thanks for your video. Its was excellent. Congratulations.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you!

[@rajeevdeshpande7666]

Hi Lord Spoda Thanks for this nice video. Enjoyed the stroll with you in the beginning of the video. Distinctly different as you crossed the border! Nice local market there. Vendors selling local food and drinks on roadside. As you entered Brownsville, liked the contrast a beautiful small house and a huge beautiful building in the same locality. Overall a good amusement and knowledge for us. Thanks again.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for the great comment, Rajeev, as usual. I always enjoy reading your reaction to the places I visit.

[@livelaughlove7094]

Many many years ago, last time I went into Matamoros, walking, crossing the bridge, there were kids holding a bamboo stick with a gallon jug cut open attached to the end. The stick was so long that it was leaned against the fence. You could drop them loose change. :)

[@garyley4270]

Good video, love the just walking about and seeing stuff as it is. Very interesting the walk into Mexico. I'm in Scotland and seeing these places is fascinating to me. That's a walk I'd do if over there.

[@livelaughlove7094]

People actually live upstairs of them buildings. I'm surprised you didn't see a whole lot of the homeless residents. I try to go out there when I can on holidays; to feed them a warm meal and snacks. My teen daughter and I try to take about 40-60 plates or sack lunches each time. I pray them all good health. ❤️

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We saw very few homeless.

[@Loftedcrowd]

Dude you took me down to memory lane, my hometown may not be pretty but gosh El Centro is probably my most visit when I was a kid.

[@jamescrawford8292]

I spent alot of time in the valley, loved the Gorditas served at Woolworths in Brownsville, I think its closed now, was across the street from that shoe store.

[@miketrejo681]

And also that’s not downtown where you were at at first was downtown the map is confusing it’s supposed to be called historic site but they put downtown y’all were at downtown when y’all went to matamoros

[@Isaiah_Ramos_RGV_Realtor]

Great video! I’m a realtor at the McAllen Metro!

[@livelaughlove7094]

I was born in Harlingen, raised in Bville. Through My teen years, I lived on Levee street, across from the old unemployment office and just blocks from downtown. I "ran" the streets often; I was the "black sheep of the family and a rebel" lol. I truly enjoyed hanging out at the Placita Washington.

[@Laura-nm3rn]

Thank you for all the content you share. Mom and I watch together and we love your channel.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

That is really cool. I'm glad you're here - and Mom as well. :)

[@jonwood9106]

Awesome show. I'm ready to follow y'all across the globe. Have fun and stay safe.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We're glad you're here, Jon! :)

[@elireal8266]

That first building/shop you showed belonged to Mr Somars ( I don't know if I'm spelling it correctly). My grandmother and mother used to buy blankets, towels, pots and pans in that store. I think he was Jewish. When my mother was I teenager the stores in the downtown area were mostly owed by Jewish people.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for relating the experience. :) Great comment.

[@marci3667]

Wow! Made my winters on South Padre Island from 1999 to 2007! Don’t remember it looking like that but always went to Matamoras! Went to a big flea market and fabric store in Matamoros!

[@debmommabear73]

When you were walking around the old buildings in Brownsville that was downtown. The GPS lied! That was Palm Blvd you were driving down just a little outside of downtown. Brownsville's main shopping has moved a little further north to Ruben Torres/FM 802

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Yeah, don't know what the hell was going on with GPS.

[@kylehicks9018]

So funny is that you were visiting Padre at the same time I was. We were told not to go into Matamoros, and apparently it's not the same as it was back in the 90s; which was the last time I was there. There's a city on the other side of the boarder that's supposed to be much nice with a lot of shopping.

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

I went there (Matamoros) in the early 90's as well, it was the last time I had been there. Back then it was vibrant and full of people shopping. You saw for yourself, in the video, what it's like now. I was honestly shocked.

[@brianrussell9419]

Surprised to see no pedestrian lineup coming back across the border . In Yuma last winter we waited in line for almost 2 hours to walk back into the US

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

We were as well. We expected it. But there was virtually no one. And thise was on a Friday afternoon.

[@mr1pearl]

I bet your glad you walked over the border wow a line !!! Dinner looked yummy ! Have a great day and thanks for sharing . Oh yeh FIRST 🤣

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for watching, Bill. :)

[@tumansekalian7079]

Thanks Lord Spoda for your informative screen, Glad to watch your videos here from Indonesia 👍👍🙏

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Thank you for watching Tuman!

[@Drdemoman07]

I'm form Brownsville and I know matamoros as well u should had me tell u where to go and I would have should you the best restaurants and stors

[@MiguelPerez-xd8ir]

Looks like GPS marks downtown more towards the entrance of the downtown area. As downtown is pretty big. If you were to go further south / east say on Elizabeth St. it would take you to the first part of your video were the old buildings were, That is what most would consider the "downtown" area. Good video. Oh already brought to your attention. But good to see this area through a different lens.

[@rolandopizana9684]

I love the Video and the day of the video Me and My Truck appear at 21:35 coming from Matamoros to Brownsville to Work!!! Blessings to You and Your Wife!!!!

[@JoeandNicsRoadTrip]

Cool!

[@dresqueda]

This was the home of the Mexican governor and the home is still in downtown Brownsville. Brownsville was the location of the beginning of the Mexican American War. Fort Brownsville was built, in part, to maintain the border after the war. It is a very old town. Matamoros was a major seaport during the 1700s with goods from Europe. You can still see tile floors that were imported from Scotland in Matamoros. I grew up with Brownsville as my second home town, and my sister and I took our kids there every year so that they would have the experience we had. We used to go back and forth across the border, with more than one cross over port of entry and exit. International bridge is just one of those crossings.

[@fely08]

Garcias is a great place to have a drink or eat, Also Bigos & el ultimo taco good food, tese places are really close to the bridsge in Matamoros. 30 years ago it used to be a great place for Spring breakers, bunch of nice disco/dance places were located just crossing the border to Matamoros. Too bad is not like that anymore and too bad you were only able to see the bad side. Matamoros still has nice places to visit

[@Blatsen]

I’m impressed that Brownsville has a low crime rate despite having a high poverty rate. This further reinforces my belief that crime is fueled more by culture and bad individuals than by poverty. Here in the St. Louis bi-state area, the low-income areas typically have high crime rates. Some of these areas would include East St. Louis, IL and the immediate surrounding areas, the north side of St. Louis (known locally as North City), and parts of north St. Louis County (known locally as North County). Of course, it’s worth pointing out that there are plenty of nice areas in both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the St. Louis area and that it would be unfair to judge the entire St. Louis area on these bad pockets just as it would be unfair to judge all of Brownsville or Mexico based on their bad areas. I know this sounds bad, but I would love it if the criminals would finish each other off so that the rest of us non-criminals could live in peace, but unfortunately, there seems to be an endless supply of them.

[@janellek21]

What is the dominant racial makeup in East St Louis, North City and North County??? Crime is indeed fueled much more by culture. The dominant ethnic/racial makeup of Brownsville doesn't consist of a certain American racial group whose culture doesn't value respect for the law and consideration for other people.

[@chunkdadeuce]

gotta keep the property tax down.

[@ElizabethGarcia-ux2rk]

That’s because we are honest working people not bad hombres

[@lourdespumarejofeluzardo8035]

Not true....

[@stevenismart]

I think there's not much crime since it's not very pedestrian-friendly in the valley overall

[@julioleal3101]

Seeing you show the paths downtown through where I always pass is so exciting NGL. I also go to Matamoros every single weekend, since I’m originally from there, and seeing you also go is nice. Thank you ❤.

[@mrojas0889]

I was born in Matamoros as well

[@cherios2456]

Me living in Brownsville I find it cool that you guys are making videos here😄

[@suprdave-ez5mn]

I remember going to the majestic theater when I was younger .

[@neburrh1]

Hello, I’m from Brownsville! Welcome to the city

[@horatiodreamt]

Enjoyable vid. Thanks for sharing it.

[@ZilsR922]

Thanks for the vid guys. Wonder if that large white abandoned building in downtown Brownsville was the charity mercy hospital I was born in in1954.

[@1970Mom]

No. The old Mercy Hospital is at the Corner of Jefferson & Central Blvd a block over & West of where they were downtown. After Mercy, it was Brownsville Medical for yearssss, then it was bought out & now is Valley Baptist-Brownsville. The building you're referring to is the remnants of the burned out El Jardin Hotel.

[@ZilsR922]

@@1970Mom Thank you for the info. I was in grade school when we moved.