EL PASO, Texas -- Monday was the first time that shoppers and workers had to deal with temperatures in the mid-90s since the the open air Outlet Shoppes At El Paso opened last October.

Frank Enriquez works at the Verizon Wireless kiosk outdoors at the Outlet Shoppes At El Paso.

"It's pretty hot, we try to keep ourselves cold drinking a lot of water and everything like that," said Enriquez.

It's not easy keeping cool in his daily attire, a shirt, tie, and dress pants.

"We're looking at getting some polos, that way it will help us out with the weather," Enriquez told KFOX.

Enriquez was not the only one braving the hot temperatures. So were shoppers.

"It's hot, but my sister wanted to get some shoes, so we're die hard, come out shopping," said Sophia Holguin from Las Cruces.

Holguin had to make a tough choice on the toasty afternoon, sweating or sun burns. She wore jeans to the outlet.

"I'm actually sunburnt from a track meet so, I couldn't wear shorts, because I don't want to get burnt more," said Holguin.

Shoppers had different plans for staying cool, but one central theme did develop: Lots of icy cold beverages.

"Drink a lot of water, and stay in the shade," said Yvette Stanford from East El Paso.

"Going into as many stores as possible, and then getting cold things to drink," said Holguin.

The designers of the outlet had hot days like Monday in mind when they built it. They installed awnings over much of the complex to have as much shade as possible.

"It's important to kind of stay in the shade, I'm kind of fair," said Rebecca Ortega from East El Paso.

"It's helping, once you're in the shade it cools off a lot," said Holguin.