Customers of the Green Cow Creamery were heartbroken during the last week of March, when owners Jeannette and Rudy Rocha announced they were closing their store on Main Street.
But the news isn’t all bad. Emmy, the life-size green cow mascot, will show up soon at another location in Cuero where the yummy hand-made ice cream flavors will be available. Look for an announcement on their social media.
“Emmy has another home here in Cuero,” Co-owner Rudy Rocha said. “We're going to make an announcement of what footprint we're going to leave in Cuero, and how that's going to work out.”
Owners Jeannette and Rudy Rocha opened two Green Cow Creameries in 2022, one in Cuero and one in Victoria. The business catered to children with countless activities and fundraisers, including naming the store’s mascot. Emmy and her business have become an anchor, drawing children, families and customers, both local and visiting, 7 days a week to Main Street.
“I just didn't realize that we had had that much of an impact in the community,” Rudy said, describing the outpouring of support since the announcement of the Main Street closing.
Hundreds of followers on their Facebook page mourned their closing throughout the countdown of the last week at the store. Rudy said property owners have offered new locations and the Cuero Development Corporation reached out to assist.
“The closing was not due to financial. We've always profited here in Cuero,” Rudy said. “I will say that the building is for sale, and I'm not sure whether there's a new owner or not.”
Rudy said even though they were renting, he invested $50,000 in improvements “to bring the building up to speed.” He said he did it as a gift to the community and the business more than recouped the funds.
“We were building our brand, and we made it back,” he said, also giving credit to the Cuero Development Corporation for grant assistance. “They invested $20,000 in the building themselves. They don't get enough recognition behind the scenes of what they do for small businesses.”
But when the building came up for sale, Rudy said he was unwilling to meet the asking price given his investment.
“It was a pretty quick decision,” Rudy said. “It’s been emotional.”
He said that the Victoria store continues to explode in demand and there are a number of expansion opportunities in discussion. But the Rochas are committed to Cuero as a base of operation and are systematically working through their options.
As for Cuero’s Green Cow, “She's going to be in a good location,” Rudy said. “You guys are going to like it. It's going to be very visible.”
