Open the pages of a West Texas landmark, built on family, good food, and unforgettable music.
The Legendary Coyote Store
Gail, Texas
A History of Family, Food & Country Music
Gail, TexasESTABLISHED 1985In Gail, Texas, a little café grew into a stage for some of country music’s best-loved voices. But the Coyote Store has always been about more than a building or a concert. It is about family, neighbors, and a welcome that makes the miles worth driving.
These pages follow that journey, from the first meals served to the songs still echoing across the West Texas sky.
INine chapters from the middle of everywhere
“A long way from the city. Right at home in Gail.”1
Long before spotlights illuminated the sky over Gail, the town itself had a story. Named for Gail Borden and selected as the Borden County seat in 1891, it grew amid ranch country where the Permian Basin meets the Plains.
At the crossroads of U.S. Highway 180 and FM 669, the distances are wide and the community is close. This small West Texas town became the unlikely home of a gathering place that would reach far beyond the county line.
2
“Before there were spotlights, there was a café counter.”3
The Coyote Store opened in 1985 as a modest café and general store in Gail. Travelers could stop for a hot meal or a few groceries, while local folks found a dependable place to catch up and carry on with the day.
Nothing about it needed to be fancy. There was food on the table, work to be done, and a welcome at the door. Those ordinary moments gave the store the character that would carry it through the decades.
4
“The work was family work. The welcome was for everyone.”5
In 1992, Bertie Copeland purchased the Coyote Store. The little café became a family undertaking, a place where the work was shared and the customers were more than names on a receipt.
Children and grandchildren helped sweep floors, wash windows, prepare food and serve neighbors. Through early mornings and busy lunch hours, Bertie helped make the store a fixture of everyday life in Gail, and passed along a lasting lesson about hard work and hospitality.
6
“Some places are too important to lose.”7
In 2014, with the store’s future uncertain, Bertie’s granddaughter Becky Justice purchased the business and chose to keep the Coyote in the family. It was a decision rooted in memories of growing up around the café and the people who called it their own.
The goal was not to trade its old character for something unrecognizable. It was to preserve what mattered while finding new ways for the store to thrive. A new chapter had begun, with the same familiar welcome waiting inside.
8
“First came the supper. Then came the music.”9
Friday fish fries, hearty dinners and homemade favorites gave neighbors a reason to linger. As the gatherings grew, the café expanded onto a covered patio, and live gospel and country performances became part of the evening.
Local singers brought the first songs, and word spread through friends, visitors and early Facebook Live broadcasts. The music felt natural here. After all, the store had always been a place where people came together. Now, there was a soundtrack.
10
“Built by local hands. Made for legendary nights.”11
In 2017, the dream grew beyond the patio. A main concert stage took shape behind the Coyote Store with help from neighbors, ranchers and borrowed or repurposed materials. Cattle panels, trailers and pallets became part of a remarkable small-town building effort.
Gene Watson was the first artist to perform on the new main stage. Suddenly, a place known for lunch and friendly conversation could welcome concertgoers from across Texas, all without leaving the heart of Gail.
12
“Big songs. Small-town hospitality.”13
Gene Watson was only the beginning. Over the years, artists including the Bellamy Brothers, Johnny Lee, Doug Stone, Moe Bandy and Shenandoah have brought memorable nights of country music to the Coyote Store.
Fans have traveled from towns near and far to hear songs that shaped their lives. The stage became larger, but the experience stayed personal: West Texas skies, food shared with friends, and voices in the crowd singing every word.
14
“The applause matters. What we do for others matters more.”15
The Coyote Store’s reach continued to grow. It was recognized as National Independent Venue of the Year in 2022 and 2023, then received the Cowtown Society of Western Music’s Venue of the Year honor in 2024.
Behind those milestones remained a commitment to neighbors and charitable causes. A 2022 benefit concert was reported to have raised more than $57,000 for veterans and Honor Flight. For the Coyote, success has meant not just drawing a crowd, but finding ways to give back.
16
“The next great country music story may begin right here.”17
In 2025, a new tradition began: the Coyote Rising Star Award, presented annually by Becky Justice to recognize up-and-coming musical artists. Its inaugural recipient was honored in 2025, followed by a second recipient in 2026.
The Coyote Store continues to welcome families, travelers, familiar faces and first-time guests for food and live music. What began as a small roadside café has become a beloved West Texas destination, still grounded in the simple pleasure of bringing people together.
18The best part of the Coyote Store’s history is that it is still being written. Every meal shared, every artist welcomed, and every new friend made becomes another page in the story.
From Bertie’s days behind the counter to the lights on the main stage, one idea has endured: people matter, and the traditions worth keeping are the ones we share.
Where tradition lives and the legends play.
Thank you for being part of the story. We hope to see you under the West Texas sky.
Gail, TexasGAIL · TEXAS · USA