Popular Farmers Market Vendor Opens First Brick & Mortar Location in Noblesville
Writer / Matt Keating
Photographer / Bradley Kercheval
Texy Mexy, with its delicious tamales and salsa, has so many fans that owners Sophie and Gerry Abell have expanded to a new location in Noblesville.
Over the last several years Texy Mexy has been very popular at catered events and the Farmers Market.
Weve solely done catering and pop-up events, as well as the Farmers Market, Sophie says. We entertained a food truck early on for just a bit, but at the time it was not a business direction we decided to take.
Sophie moved to Noblesville 12 years ago to marry Gerry, who is from Indiana. She sold her salsa and tamales in Texas for many years before she moved to Noblesville.
I had a very successful following in Texas, she says. One day, my husband approached me with the idea of letting me start up my dream of being a Farmers Market vendor. We really didnt know what all it entailed to start up. I researched the permitting process, the health department requirements, sought out a commercial kitchen to use, borrowed a tent from a neighbor and we started.
On day one, as Sophie and Gerry were giving out salsa samples and were selling it very quickly, they looked at each other and said, Were on to something. They were also successful at The Saxony Fishers Market on Saturday mornings as well.
Once we were accepted into the Noblesville Market, we found out that this was the most profitable option for us, Sophie says.
The tamales are the customer favorites.
From the beginning, my intent has been to take my late mothers recipes and maintain the flavors that I grew up on, Sophie says. I also make tamales to cater to the vegetarian and vegan customers. I make pork, chicken, queso & green chilies, black bean corn and roasted butternut squash. Our tamales are all lard-free and gluten-free.
One of her signature tamales is the roasted butternut squash.
It is my original recipe, she says.When I first put it on the menu we had sold out of the others and this was the only option left. People tried it and loved it. It becomes their favorite.
Another favorite is their breakfast tacos.
They sell out fast, Sophie says. Its a mixture of chorizo, potato, egg and cheese. We had customers that would stop by at the market and buy six to eight at a time as neighbors would send them for a taco run.
Of course, their biggest seller is their salsa.
Customers know that you must arrive early to get salsa at the market, Sophie says. What is known as Sophies Signature Salsa won the Salsa 4 Salsa contest this year. You will be able to pick up our 16oz salsa containers at the new restaurant.
Sophies favorite is the pork tamale.
I make my pork tamale exactly the way my mom taught me, she says. It is a true Texas tamale with seasoned shredded pork. I pride myself in keeping to the recipes she taught me.
Sophie believes their new 818 Logan Street location is perfect.
We are excited to be a part of historic downtown Noblesville, she says. Our unique space is a 128-year-old building. We have a fun modern design, with minimal wall art, because the exposed brick walls are art. I had fun designing our space. We have several features inside the space. One of the features Gerry wanted is an Internet bar. We have the bar facing the beautiful brick wall with USB ports, offering a workspace for diners.
Texy Mexy also has a dining bar facing the front window with a full view of the Noblesville courthouse. Texy Mexy is a fast-casual service restaurant.
You line up to order from the counter, Sophie says. We are providing Texy Mexy yellow umbrellas for use if you happen to be in line outdoors. This is to protect you from rain, snow or sun. The umbrellas can be picked up and returned inside the vestibule, which has a heated tile floor for the winter months.
Texy Mexy customers can also look forward to enjoying their favorite tamales and tacos anytime they want, instead of just seasonally.
We will continue doing what weve always done, which is carry on our farmers market menu, Sophie says. We have customers that have their favorites, and they can be sure to see it on the menu. Im excited to be able to expand the menu with more taco options, too. In the restaurant, I will be able to add fresh guacamole, queso, soups and tortas to the menu along with other items.
Sophie and Gerry have two daughters, Jenn, 35, who lives in Texas, and Paige, 27, who lives in Noblesville. Sophie is originally from Fort Worth, Texas.
I love our community, Sophie says. We live in Noblesville and are proud supporters of everything that makes this community great. I love the historic downtown feel. We have been in business for eight seasons at the Farmers Market, so we are looking forward to seeing many of our regular customers stop by and eat in our new space as well as meeting many new customers.
Sophie says her loyal fans have made Texy Mexi a success.
We are grateful for all the prayers, support and encouragement that weve had surround us during this process of opening our first restaurant, Sophie says. It has been an exciting time in our lives, and we could not have done this without help from so many people.
Texy Mexy is located at 818 Logan Street in Noblesville. Visit them online at texymexyrestaurantnoblesville.com.
