Moxieberry, a popular Third Avenue eatery, is bowing out and will be replaced by two separate businesses, a restaurant and coffee shop.
Stepping in will be Ken and Amy Carey, Spud Bus owners who will open in their brick-and-mortar space as Third Avenue Eatery. Joining them will be Kelly Stevens of Naked Cat Coffee, LLC & Sweets assisted by her husband, Dave, and 14-year-old daughter, Natalie.
Moxieberry owner Teri Mesa said she and her husband, Jon, had been approached several times in the recent past about interest in their business.
“Although it was our long game-plan for retirement, when this opportunity presented itself, we saw it as a win-win for all parties,” she said. “We would gain more time to run our other downtown businesses and bring a community favorite food truck to Third Avenue. We have no plans to open in another location. We have plenty to keep us busy downtown.”
The Mesas plan to spend more time developing the retail spaces in the Marketplace At The Grove, 3rd Easel Gallery & Gifts, and “any other projects that come up.”
Mesa called the change “definitely a match made in heaven” that came together in the last few weeks.
“When something feels right, you simply got to go with it,” she said.
Ken Carey explained, “We were open at Monte’s Coin Shop, and Teri was out walking her dog. She stopped by the bus and asked Ken if he would be interested in renting the restaurant. It was totally out of left field!
“Operating a brick-and-mortar was the furthest thing from our minds,” he added. “We had talked about it tongue-in-cheek for a few years. We feel very excited and nervous, at the same time.”
The décor of the restaurant is a color and style the Careys love and, as well as the menu, will remain the same, with a few additions to make it their own space. Tables and chairs allow for eat-in or take-out, he said.
According to Carey, people are enthusiastic about having another place open downtown in the evenings that will offer a variety of food options.
Carey said their goal and vision since the conception of the Spud Bus has been to encourage and work alongside other businesses.
“We are excited about bringing some fresh and exciting enthusiasm to Third Avenue,” he said. “We are thankful to be supported by such an awesome community.”
Sharing the space makes sense to Stevens, who – yes – owns four hairless, naked cats!
“We realize we have some growing pains and challenges ahead of us,” Carey said. “We also see the amazing potential of having the opportunity of serving our community in an entirely new way.”
A grand opening has not been set yet, but the new restaurateurs hope to hold it by mid-July.
