A new café is coming to the Me & Ed's Restaurant site — here's what's planned

NEW BEDFORD — A new café is in the works to open at the former Me & Ed's Family Restaurant location on Brock Avenue.

"Want to make the South End feel like it's theirs," said Bryan C. Moniz, owner of Cafe Taber, which plans to open in September.

Moniz, originally from the South End, said he wants to keep the "Taber" name to represent the area as a main theme for his new restaurant on the corner of Brock Avenue and Seymour Street.

"Everybody goes for a ride around the beach," he said. "And I hope they then stop at my place."

Cafe Taber will serve breakfast and lunch only, and brunch on the weekends. It will also have a bar downstairs.

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Moniz said he is renovating the entire building giving it a new kitchen, bathroom and bar. "It's getting a new facelift everything handicap accessible, everything up to code," he said.

"I'm using the body and that's it."

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Saying goodbye to a legacy

On May 29, 2021, fans of the 57-year-old eatery mourned the end of a legacy when the businesses closed its doors.

"It’s been a journey none of us will forget," said owner Corey Lorenco in a final Facebook post. "These are the types of day's [sic] legends are made of."

Lorenco said in the post that he will be continuing his recipes, service, ingredients and passion at their sister takeout and catering business On The Go in Mattapoisett.

"A sad day for New Bedford," commented Sarah Bishop Valentine on Facebook.

"Me and Ed's was one of the best Restaurants to stand the test of time in this entire County. Thank you for having been such an iconic place and a part of local history."

Moniz said although he never dined inside Me & Ed's Restaurant, he did take out food from them once in awhile. He enjoyed the pizza.

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This will be the first restaurant owned by Moniz and his family. Moniz, who has a history of flipping houses, said he's excited to start the work.

"I've always wanted to own my own little business between me and my wife," he said. "It's my first experience I'm just trying to live the American dream.

"I'm taking a chance. I don't have much experience. But I got experience with managing my life pretty well."

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.