Troubled Downtown Cafe Location Remains Vacant

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The cafe space in the Stephens Central Library downtown will remain vacant as Tom Green County Commissioners are set to close the request for proposals Tuesday because no vendors responded.  

The last cafe to operate in the location shut down in April due to lack of paying rent. As we reported earlier, the Library Cafe cannot have a full kitchen because of city fire and safety codes and in the past by contract couldn’t operate outside of library hours which are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday.  Food has to be prepared elsewhere and brought in.  Most businesses and offices downtown operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a coffee shop or breakfast type cafe would need to be open earlier to accommodate people who have to be at work at 8 a.m. 

Commissioners and staff have discussed allowing a vendor to operate outside the Library’s hours.  One vendor had submitted a proposal but withdrew it before the bids were awarded earlier this fall.  There were no bids on the current proposal which Commissioners are expected to close Tuesday.

Commissioners on Tuesday will also consider issues dealing with Mineral Wells crossing on the Concho River near Christoval.  Recent rainfall and flooding has the South Concho River at Christoval running over the low water crossing at Mineral Wells park.  When the water is over the bridge, residents who have to cross the low water crossing bridge are stranded because there is no other public access to their homes.  There is a private ranch road that has been used in the past. Pct. four County Commissioner Bill Ford will discuss options to solving the challenge at Mineral Wells Crossing.  The County would need a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife to clear debris from the bridge and that could be a months long or years long process.

Commissioners will also consider accepting an insurance settlement of $22,291.75 for a Sheriff’s Department vehicle totaled in a wreck.  The will also consider requesting bids for new vehicles for the Constables.

The Tom Green County Commissioners Court meets at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning on the second floor of the Keyes Building downtown.