EL PASO, Texas -- The city of El Paso said its downtown development plan is working, and its has the numbers to back it up.

The city points to a number of different areas of growth, like the remodeling of the Mills Building and the Doubletree Hotel opening up.

City officials also highlight the Union Plaza area, and new restaurants like The Garden.

"We thought it was going to start off slower, but we've just been overwhelmed since the beginning actually," said John Geske, owner of The Garden.

It was more than half full when KFOX showed up, and people were still coming in after the lunch rush, at 2:30 p.m. on a Wednesday.

"As you're seeing people migrate towards downtown for some of this entertainment, more businesses are going to be coming along as well," said Victor Venegas with the city of El Paso economic development.

Venegas said this year alone, 16 businesses, including The Garden, have either opened or expanded their operations, and $223 million has been invested in downtown, both public and private, in the last three years.

"This time, we've both come together, moving this thing forward," Venegas told KFOX.

And Geske said that's why it is working now. He sees the millions in public investment.

"The old buildings, the lights and the money that the city spent with the park benches and the trees and the renovation of Union Plaza and the downtown district makes it just beautiful day or night," said Geske.

He also has made $1.2 million in a private investment in The Garden, not to mention the investment of time and energy.

"We knew it was up to us to serve a good product to keep them coming, and so far it's been fantastic," he said.