By Paul Levikow

September 3, 2025 (El Cajon) – East County car enthusiasts have cause for celebration, after the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday approved a two-month extension of the Cajon Cruise on Main Street and Prescott Promenade, this time hosted by Downtown Café.

The revived car show will rev up on Wednesday nights Sept. 10 through Oct. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring classic and show cars.

In prior years, the car show ran six months, from April through October. But this year, due to a funding shortfall, the event customarily hosted by the downtown merchants’ organization ran for only two months, from June 4-July 30.

April 23, 2015 (El Cajon) – Aces Foundation invites the public to its annual Barkitecture Bash on Sunday, April 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Downtown Café, 182 East Main Street in El Cajon.

Part IV in a series

By the East County Eaters

Week 4:  Downtown Café (El Cajon) and Anthony’s Seafood Grotto (La Mesa)

October 16, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) –In our fourth week of savoring great happy hours across our region, we stopped in at two establishments with deep roots in the community: Downtown Café, located in a historic brick that dates back to El  Cajon’s pioneer past, and Anthony’s Fish Grotto, a landmark restaurant serving up fresh seafood in La Mesa since 1946.

By Ed Barrenas

July 2, 2014 (El Cajon)--Micro-brewing is catching on around the nation, but if you don't have the means to visit microbreweries in other states, or even if fine local breweries just seem too far out of the way, head to The Downtown Cafe in the heart of downtown El Cajon.

Already boasting what I consider to be one of the best happy hours in East County, The Downtown Cafe also delivers a rotation of microbrews from around the country, that only a few establishments could hope to rival. There is also a full restaurant, and certain foods are offered at happy hour discounts.

October 23, 2010 (El Cajon) – Camp Bow-Wow invites you and your dog to celebrate Halloween early at “Yappy Hour” on Thursday, October 28 from 6-8 p.m. at the Downtown Café. “Bring your pup or pups in costume and win some great prizes,” a press release for the event states. “We will be judging most creative, funniest and owner/pup best duos—so you two-legged folks, come dressed up as well.”