Downtown Copperas Cove sees new life with farmer’s market, business expansions
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Downtown Copperas Cove will be seeing more foot traffic and local patrons, with the Copperas Cove Farmer’s Market opening for the season this Friday, May 6, from 4-8 p.m.
This year the market is in a new location, in the 100 block of West Avenue E, between the Main Street and 1st Street intersections.
That section of Avenue E will be blocked off to make room for diners and shoppers.
There will be a lineup of vendors and activities adjacent to Taste of Cove Food Truck Park, at 105 West Avenue E, open since March 25.
Among the trucks currently on site are Sporty Dogg, Lil Baghdad, Blessed Hands Caribbean Food, and Hits the Spot German Food.
This Friday’s market will include corn hole, giant tic-tac-toe, giant checkers, axe throwing, and more.
Also new for this year with the farmer’s market is entertainment on the first Friday of the month. Friday evening’s entertainment will kick off with the sounds of DJ 5ive.
The Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce is overseeing the vendors for the market this year, with the change of location from the corner of South 2nd Street and East Avenue D. The market will take place weekly through October. Those who are interested in vendor spots should contact the chamber at (254) 547-7574.
Downtown Copperas Cove is also seeing the expansion of a business which has opened within the past year.
This week, Monty’s Old School BBQ is working to move from its current location on East Avenue D, to 301 S. 1st St., the former location of German Imbiss, located across the street from Copperas Hills Food Mart and the food truck park.
With the move, Monty’s is also working on rebrand to Monty’s Steak, Brew & BBQ, or MSB2 (MSB “squared”).
Monty’s, known for its BBQ and as the “home of the ribasaurus”, is making the shift due to the German Imbiss shuttering its door permanently on April 16.
Manuel Montanez, owner of Monty’s, is excited about the location and the space available for his business, as word has gotten around about his food. One thing that some Covites have clamored for is a steakhouse, and that’s what Montanez wants to bring to downtown.
Montanez said that in addition to his signature BBQ, sausage, ribs, pulled pork and other offerings on his menu, he will be adding Angus beef, in the form of ribeye, T-bone, filet mignon, burnt ends. Other non-beef items added to the menu will be porkchops, chicken fried chicken, and chicken fried steak.
Montanez said he will be adding craft sodas to the beverages offered, along with craft beers from Iron Gauntlet Brewery. His catering services will also continue, he added.
The location is readymade for the restaurant, and Montanez is crossing his fingers and working toward a soft opening on Thursday, May 5, for Cinco de Mayo.
However, Montanez said that the Avenue D location will still be open during Rabbit Fest in two weeks, and also he plans to have it open during the Rabbit Fest parade, as he did during the Christmas parade when he first opened doors to the business back in December 2021.
Around the corner from the new Monty’s, another business moved in at the end of March. Saved By Grace Salon & Spa, is located in the same building but a few doors down, at 207 West Avenue E.
To the east side of Taste of Cove on East Avenue E, another new dining establishment is on the horizon.
Back in November 2021, the Cove Theater opened its doors downtown.
The theater’s co-owners, Andy Remedies and Betina Cash, have plans in the works for another business venture, a restaurant and pub to be located at 105 E. Avenue E.
According to this Tuesday’s city council meeting agenda, a city code variance is coming before the council.
With the site of their future business located within 300 feet of a nearby church, the business partners must have a variance to the city code before they can apply to TABC to sell alcohol at this location.
Remedies, in his letter written to the city regarding the variance, said that “we firmly believe that this variance will allow us to continue to be leaders in the revitalization of downtown Copperas Cove. As lifelong residents of Cove, we want to keep Cove dollars in Cove, and this variance will accomplish that.”
No anticipated opening date for the new restaurant/pub has been announced as of press time.