Visit El Paso

Constructed in 1909 and 1910, as the Rio Grande Valley Bank Building, the Abdou Building, as it is known today, rises seven stories above the southwest corner of Texas Avenue and Mesa Street. The Abdou building, with its stark appearance, exhibits the structural and decorative capabilities of reinforced concrete, a medium explored by Trost in the early 20th century. In 1925, Sam Abdou, a prominent El Paso businessman who was actively involved in many philanthropic and civic affairs, purchased the building. Under his ownership, the building was leased to the American Trust and Savings Bank, of which he was director. Although this bank defaulted during the depression, Abdou remained at his post and personally saw that depositors were reimbursed for the funds that they had deposited.