Patrons of a longtime movie house are in for a disappointment. Five years after being brought back to life, a tiny theater in Central Texas is bidding farewell, possibly for good, after entertaining residents for more than 70 years.

The Cove Theater originally opened in Copperas Cove in 1950 and originally closed in 2009. After a short stint as a community church, the movie theater was brought back to its roots by co-owners Andy Remedies and Betina Cash, reopening the theater in 2021 to the delight of Central Texas crowds. However, months away from the five-year anniversary, the couple announced that The Cove Theater is once again closing on May 31.

“We have loved running the theater and meeting so many incredible performers and customers,” Remedies and Cash wrote on Facebook. “At this time, we need to focus our energies elsewhere and take advantage of our equity in other businesses, Herb & Earnies’ and Main St. Mercantile.”

Remedies explained to MySA that the couple reopened The Cove in order to “offer affordable entertainment options” in Copperas Cove. However, their lease on the building is expiring soon, and they both decided it was no longer feasible to invest money into a building that isn’t theirs.

Remedies and Cash opened Herb & Earnie’s Family Diner in 2022, offering all-day breakfast alongside German classics and Southern comfort foods. Then last year, they opened Main St. Mercantile, which houses almost 100 local vendors serving everything from fresh-baked bread to 3D-printed crafts and hand-sewn quilts.

“We simply have to focus our energy and capital into these ventures in order to achieve our goals,” Remedies said to MySA. “Downtown Copperas Cove is growing, and we are proud that the theater was a catalyst for its growth.”

The couple said they are hopeful someone will lease The Cove Theater and continue its operations. If that doesn’t happen, they intend to sell a “large portion” of their equipment, including the commercial projector and surround sound system.

Find it: 111 W. Ave. D, Copperas Cove, TX 76522