Cooper's heading to New Braunfels

[C-Man]

I got an e-mail from Cooper's Old Time BBQ today that said they would be opening Cooper's #2 in New Braunfels soon.

 

[Smoky Brisket]

you mean #3? Or is the one in Junction a bastard child?

 

[12thStudStan]

Based on my last visit to Cooper's in Junction, I wouldn't blame anybody for not claiming it.

I have always had pretty good cue in Llano, BTW.

 

[C-Man]

Must be a bastard child, Smoky, because this is exactly what is written across the top of the e-mail:

COMING SOON IN 2008...
OUR SECOND LOCATION IN
NEW BRAUNFELS, TX!

 

[NickDanger]

Someone once explained to me that the Junction version (which is beyond horrible) was owned by a family relation to the Llano joint. I can't say whether or not that is true, but I can swear that is the story I was told.

 

[LovinTheAtx]

Please...please let it be at least half as good as the original Coopers.

 

[hornian]

Longhorn Al is about to come on here and yell at all of you for dissing Coopers in Junction

 

[Luke Duke]

Well I guess that Cooper's has to suck now since it is a chain restaurant.

 

[idigTexas]

There's also a Cooper's in Mason, which I believe was started by a relative.

 

[flaco]

You know there is a Cooper's in Round Rock too. It also sucked the time I was there. My dad used to tell the story about being in the card game where old man Cooper won the money to start the original one in Mason and the owner of the one in Round Rock confirmed the story of his dad was true the time I was in there.

I don't know how they are all related but the only two that I have liked were the ones in Mason and Llano.

 

[pulque]

Cooper's in Llano was great before Tommy Cooper died on a coon hunt years ago...

 

[Orange&White]

The front page of their website features a new section about franchise information. I can't imagine that being a good thing.

 

[pike]

Those coons can be vicious.

pike

 

[Beau Vine]

In reply to:

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[Wesser]

Texas Monthly ran an article about the various 'Coopers" a couple of years ago in their Barbecue issue. The original is the Llano establishment. The Mason Coopers is owned by a cousin of the Llano joint, but it is not connected to the Llano place.

Their is a Coopers in San Angelo off Hwy 87 on the way to Eden, (although it might be a different name) -- same menu items, including the Big Chop. I think that it is directly related to the Junction Coopers. I always assumed that Junction/Angelo Coopers were offshoots of the Llano one as they have the same menus. Obviously, I was wrong. Probably another family member. I do know that the Mason restaurant is different that all of the other ones, and in my opinion, far better.

 

[flaco]

I always thought the Mason Coopers was the original.

 

[tx 3 putt]

The Cooper's in Junction is beyond terrible.

If you make it to Kerrville before making an emergency exit / stop, you're lucky.

 

[pulque]

In reply to:

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[THEU]

The Cooper's in Llano SUX. Sawdust dry meat is not my idea of good BBQ.... and the Aggie crap on the walls doesn't endear me either.

 

[MCooper]

Hello All! I am a Cooper. My family started the original Cooper's BBQ back in 1953. Let me give you all the true timeline so you can get it straight with all your friends who enjoy cooper's.

The ORIGINAL Cooper's started in 1953 By George Cooper (My grandfather) in Mason, Texas. He is the one who developed ALL the original recepies. This Coopers is now owned by Duard Dockel who worked for my grandfather.

The Second Cooper's was started by George's oldest son, Tommy Cooper at Lake Buchanan but later moved into Llano to attract more business. Tommy was killed in an accident and the buisness was sold to Terry Wooten. This is by far the most famous cooper's due to it's location and multiple magazine reviews.

The Third Cooper's opened in Round Rock, Texas in 1985 started by Gary Cooper (George Cooper's youngest son). This location closed in october 2006 due to family health reasons.

The Fourth Cooper's was opened by Roy Cooper (George's middle son) in Junction, Texas in 1999. It is run by Roy and his wife Sheila and their son Mark Cooper.

The Cooper's that will be heading to New Braunfels will be a collaboration between Terry Wooton (owner of Llano Cooper's) and Berry Cooper (Tommy Cooper's son).

I hope this information is helpful to those of you who enjoy Cooper's BBQ.

 

[NCAAFBALLROX]

Thanks for the info. I can only imagine what was going through your head when you read the 'first hand' reviews from the various posters (as for the aggy junk on the walls in the Llano spot, I always watch the TV or people watch & try to ignore the spam).

I guess now that we know the history on all the spots we can safely say the only thing they have in common is blood - I have been to the Round Rock location & it was passable, but not anywhere like the Llano spot (which is by far the more famous of all the stores).

Personally, I rank Cooper's Llano right up there shoulder to shoulder with Louie Mueller's. Cooper's in Llano is one of those places that gets a line going 20 yards within 10 minutes of opening the door (I am happy to say that one day, we were lucky enough to be 1st!!!).

Llano - first rate.
Round Rock - a decent choice when I worked @ DeLL but impossible to find them open on a consistent basis.

All others: neve been there.