DOWNTOWN CUERO OFFERS VARIETY OF CHOICES FOR SHOPPERS

A hammock hangs for sale at the farmers market in downtown Cuero.

Qiling Wang/Victoria Advocate

BY AMBER ALDACO aaldaco@vicad.com

CUERO — On the last Saturday morning of each month, dozens of people can be found parking their vehicles and walking through downtown to get their market fix.

The Downtown Farmers Market has become a place where up to 25 vendors spend their weekend to sell handcrafted items, homemade jellies and sweets, or artistically repurposed furniture.

Meredith Metting took her 7-year-old daughter, Harper , and 2-year-old son, Turner, to the market to shop and to enjoy a sidewalk-chalk event one weekend in the summer.

Harper was already excited to wear one of her market finds — a navy blue Puebla dress her mother bought for her from one of the downtown vendors.

“It’s all so unique. I like that we’re able to walk around and able to buy a new dress and shop as you like with the variety,” Metting, 34, said. “I grew up in Cuero, so it’s nice that the town offers something like this.”

The event takes place underneath the Market Pavilion, located in the parking lot of the Cuero Municipal Library, on the fourth Saturday of the month, March through October.

In March and October, the event is called Market on

By Qiling Wang McKenna Moore, 6, left, and McKalah Moore, 8, smell the bath bombs at the farmers market on Cuero Main Street.

 IF YOU GO

DOWTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET

Cuero Market Pavillion, 207 E. Main St.

HOURS \\ 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 4th Saturday of the month, March - October

Main and in addition to the farmers and handmade market, there’s music and a wine and beer garden.

From locals to those visiting the area, the Farmers and Handmade Market is a place where many jump-start their weekend and bring their family to enjoy the small-town atmosphere.

The pavilion, was built earlier this year, specifically for the market and downtown events, said Sandra Osman, Cuero Main Street manager.

“The market pavilion is the perfect creative space and cool space with fans, so that vendors and customers can enjoy their experience at the market,” Osman said.

What makes the market unique to Cuero is that both farmers and artisans within a 100-mile radius are able to sell their items at the market, Osman said.

Shoppers can find grass-fed meats, farm eggs, local honey, pickles, jams, jellies, baked goods, a variety of squash, a variety of zucchini, different types of peppers, apple butter and local wine at the farmers market.

Craft vendors sell clothes, shoes, different types of jewelry, purses, home and outdoor decorations.

The market has up to 10 consistent farmers, and the number of artisan and craft vendors continue to grow, she said.

“The majority of our goal is to have a farmers market but to also bring people downtown to the other shops and museums so that people can see that Cuero is a destination town,” Osman said.

The success of the smalltown market has reached the ears of bordertown vendor Abel Ramirez, of Brownsville, who drives four hours with items from his store, Ramirez Curios, to sell in Gobbler Country once a month.

“All the items I have here are handcrafted items from Mexico, so I bring a little piece of Mexico here,” Ramirez, 41, said.

The vendor has received positive reaction from Crossroads residents, he said, and he wants to continue to market items such as Pueblo dresses, colorful leather sandals, purses, hats, blankets and hammocks.

He looks forward to having a booth at the Christmas in Downtown event in December, one of the biggest events of the year for Cuero.

The market is also an opportunity for budding business owners to spread their wings. Cathy Coronado and her husband, Adrian Coronado, own The Dusty Trail — New, Used and In Between store in Victoria. The Victoria couple decided to have a booth at the market to sell to more in the Crossroads, Cathy Coronado said.

“We like it here because we get to see so many people and talk to them about what they like,” Coronado, 28, said.

Downtown also offers a variety of other businesses.

CRAFTY IDEAS

Those looking to bring out their creative side can call and stop by Crafty Chics, a shop that specializes in artistic crafts in a variety of mediums.

The shop first started as a home hobby for co-owners Connie Hawes and Lisa Waterbury. The two hosted craft parties at their homes for friends and soon needed a bigger venue for hosting.

“We decided we wanted a more permanent base so that people can come to us now,” Hawes said.

Crafty Chics offers monthly painting on canvas classes and offers painting on mediums such as Mason jars, wine bottles and pallet boards. The shop also offers classes and workshops on scrapbooking, photo albums, greeting cards and sewing.

“We let our clients give us an idea of what they want to do and we’ll put it together and schedule a class on it,” Hawes said.

Crafty Chics has classes that are open to the public, but private classes are available for parties as well. Clientele includes people from all over the Crossroads and even from San Antonio, Hawes said.

“It’s been great. The public and region has been very receptive of us,” Hawes said.

COFFEE AND A PASTRY

For more than 15 years, Main Street Kaffee Haus and Deli has helped Cuero residents and downtown visitors begin their day with a hot — or cold, depending on the weather — cup of coffee.

The aroma of fresh brewed coffee will wake up the senses, but the enticing scent of carrot muffins will give pause to the casual cafe stroller.

“We’re like mom’s kitchen — we like to make what you need,” said co-owner Annette Rath.

Main Street Kaffee House and Deli offers a variety of coffee, including expressos, Americanos, cappuccinos, lattes and mochas. The cafe also offers the coffee menu in cold form and other frozen coffee drinks such as frozen cappuccinos.

Amber Aldaco/aaldaco@vicad.com Crafty Chics, one of the newest additions to downtown Cuero, offers public and private creative crafting classes.

 IF YOU GO

CRAFTY CHICS

106 N. Gonzales St. 361-524-5324 Crafty Chics Cuero on Facebook

HOURS \\ 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursday - Saturday or more info

Amber Aldaco/aaldaco@vicad.com Main Street Kaffee Haus and Deli has been in business for more than 15 years. In addition to serving a variety of coffee, the cafe also has breakfast and lunch menus.

And if coffee isn’t your caffeine of choice, the cafe also sells soft drinks.

The cafe has breakfast, which includes a variety of smoothies, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches such as the trendy avocado toast.

The menu also includes, soups, salads, sandwiches and daily specials. The most popular choice is the jailbird specialty sandwich, which is a panini-pressed sandwich with chicken, jalapeño cheese, bacon and a special sauce, Rath said,

Pastries from the Cuero Pecan House are also on hand for those looking to pair their coffee or meal with a sweet side. Gluten-free pastries are now available for those with gluten sensitivity.

“I think what’s unique about the Kaffee Haus is that you can come in and we specialize to what you want,” Rath said.

Visitors can also enjoy a mural by artist Rafael Acosta Jr., which features racing turkeys Ruby Begonia and Paycheck. Rath’s husband and co-owner, Erwin, had the mural commissioned as a gift to Annette, she said.

“You can find the icons of Cuero in that mural,” Rath said.

 IF YOU GO

MAIN STREET KAFFEE HAUS AND DELI

104 E. Main St. 361-275-6890

HOURS \\ 7:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. weekdays, 9 am. - 3 p.m. Saturday