The former home of Aubrey's MOMS on Main building is getting prepared for a new restaurant tenant.
Restoration has begun to breathe new life into the historic building on Main Street, built in 1890, and further the mission of Aubrey’s Municipal Development District.
“There is also a lot of value in preserving the character of Aubrey,” MDD Board President Holly Drew said in a message. “We are growing quickly, but I think it is extremely important that we don’t lose sight of who we are and where we came from. Restoring existing buildings gives us an opportunity to embrace growth while still protecting the history and personality that make Aubrey special.”
One of the roles of the MDD is to develop and support economic development projects that benefit Aubrey and the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. Part of the decisions the board makes is to buy properties, MOMS on Main being one.
The last business there was the MOMS on Main restaurant, a name by which the building is still affectionately referred to today. It served as a community gathering place up until its closing in 2023.
“The biggest benefit is bringing life back into a building that has been sitting vacant and making it a productive part of our downtown again,' Drew said. “Every occupied building matters in a historic downtown. It creates activity, brings people into the area, supports surrounding businesses, and encourages additional investment.”
She added that behind the scenes, it took a lot of discussions and planning by the team.
The restoration work has already started on the building, including masonry repairs both interior and exterior, along with repairs to the facade, wood, windows and roof.
Construction is expected to finish at the end of July or early August.
“There's quite a bit of renovations that need to take place,” MDD board Vice President Todd Davis said. “But I think that gave the MDD a great opportunity for a selling point for anyone that wants to come into it, because they do get that fresh, clean slate on the inside, to really design the establishment they want, while maintaining that architecture on the outside, that historic look to the downtown buildings, but being able to bring a modern elegance to it in a way.”
Davis also gave kudos to the surrounding tenants for already maintaining that legacy and feel.
MOMS on Main is one of several historical buildings on the street still standing over a century old as a testament to Aubrey's rich history.
“They play an important role today, and they remind us of the heritage of the founding families of Aubrey who built those buildings, and they were the original entrepreneurs in Aubrey,' MDD Executive Director Christine Gossett said. “… To continue using those buildings for businesses is really a major goal for us.”
The decision to invest was an important one for the MDD.
“The board deliberated on a decision about it just because it is such a large parcel in downtown in a historic strip of buildings, which is very important to the core of the Central Business District,” Gossett said.
Another draw was the possibilities and opportunities it would create for the city, and that comes with choosing the right tenant.
“At the end of the day, it's what do the citizens of Aubrey want?” Davis said. “What are they looking for in our future growth? So finding an establishment that's gonna maintain that history but also provide a service that we desperately need as a city … and that the citizens desperately want.”
The Request for Proposal is posted on AubreyMDD. com under the Real Estate & Maps tab and on AubreyTX. gov.
The RFP will be listed as “Tenant Proposals for 204208 S. Main,” and it will have all the requirements for a potential restaurant tenant and contact information.
The deadline to apply has been extended to Aug. 10, and potential tenants can arrange a tour of the building.
“Having the opportunity to be on the board during this crucial period and having that opportunity as a board to make the decision to purchase the MOMS building and develop it and help guide development … is a great opportunity for this city and the citizens to see exactly what the purpose of the MDD is,” Davis said.
