At the Friday, September 9th 2022 Community Leaders’ Meeting, guest speaker Annemarie Leslie Mees gave a presentation about her upcoming joint business venture, the Cuero Creamery. Leslie Mees described the key concept behind the establishment as “innovative and economically conscious” and a place where “you will be able to recharge your car outside, while recharging your mind, body, and soul inside (in a) welcoming ambience and entertaining atmosphere.” Features will include a gelato shop, tap room, and commercial kitchen, and the sale of local artisanal goods, beer and wine and other non-perishable specialty items with a local flavor. Details about the electric vehicle quick-charging station especially created a stir of excitement among attendees. The city currently has a Level 2 EV charger in the parking area behind Main Street, but the Creamery’s Freewire Level 3 equipment would be the town’s first station capable of fully charging an EV within 30 minutes. Leslie Mees said, and several members of the group agreed, that this would be a significant draw for visitors to the city. The business’s tentative opening date is in January 2023.
The meeting was opened by Bobby Seiferman, in his final address as CDC Executive Director, before introducing the new Executive Director, Maggie Cromeens. Cromeens officially began her position on Tuesday, September 6th and Seiferman’s final day of the transition period will be Friday, September 16th. Before introducing Leslie Mees, Cromeens spoke about how thrilled she was to return to her roots in Cuero after working and raising a family in San Antonio for the past several years and how excited she was for the unique opportunities awaiting in Cuero.
Following the main speaker presentation and Q&A session by Leslie Mees, former CDC Board President Richard Weber stepped to the podium to acknowledge Seiferman’s tenure over the past two-and-half years, particularly during the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented to local businesses, challenges which were met with financial assistance programs from the CDC that the majority of Cuero businesses took advantage of to survive and successfully rebound. Seiferman was then presented with a gift basket from Cuero Pecan House and a large cake from McAlister’s Bakery, two such businesses which were helped by the CDC’s assitance programs. Meeting attendees also enjoyed breakfast refreshments provided by KeKe Cafe.
The next Community Leaders’ Meeting will take place on Friday, October 14th, and the scheduled speaker is Kip Miller of Green Gobbler Bar & Grill, another new business opening in Cuero.