When I drove past the corner where my grandma’s restaurant once stood — Dot’s Kitchen, also known to many as the Corner Kitchen — I wasn’t prepared for the emptiness that hit me.
The building was gone.
The brick, the windows, the door that welcomed so many… gone.
And just like that, a place that had been a pillar of my childhood and our community was reduced to memories.
But as my emotions swirled between sadness and nostalgia, one truth settled in my heart:
The building may be gone, but the legacy my grandparents built will never be torn down.
The Legacy of Dot’s Kitchen
Dot’s Kitchen was more than a restaurant. It was a place where the smell of home-cooked meals drifted down the block, where laughter bounced off the walls, and where love was served on every plate.
My grandma Dot was the heart — her cooking, her smile, her way of making you feel like family from the moment you stepped inside. My grandpa was the backbone — steady, hardworking, and committed to making sure their dream stayed alive. Together, they didn’t just run a business; they created a gathering place, a safe space, and a home away from home.
People came for the food, but they stayed for the warmth. The Corner Kitchen fed bodies, yes — but it also fed souls.
Memories from Inside the Kitchen
Some of my most vivid childhood memories are tucked into the corners of that little restaurant:
🧊 I had a cozy spot by the ice machine where I’d curl up with my nap sack and take my naps while my grandparents worked.
🍽 I learned how to clean chitlings in that kitchen — and I mean clean clean. I remember one time working so hard on a thick piece with my plastic knife, and my grandma looked over and said,
“That thing is cleaner than clean.”
I’ll never forget how proud I felt in that moment.
🍔 The most popular item on the menu? The famous Chitling Burger. Customers came in just for that.
🍗 The chicken wings and French fries? My absolute favorite. I can still taste the crispy skin and hear the sizzle as they fried.
👾 And let’s not forget the Pac-Man game in the corner! I only ever played the demo because it stressed me out so bad trying not to get eaten. 😅
These memories aren’t just sweet—they’re sacred. They shaped my sense of family, tradition, and purpose.
Lessons I Learned in That Kitchen
Even as a child, I picked up lessons I didn’t realize would shape me for life:
- Work ethic: Watching my grandparents wake up early, prep food, and serve customers day in and day out taught me what dedication truly looks like.
- Pride in your craft: They didn’t just cook — they poured love into every single dish.
- Hospitality: Every customer was treated like family, no matter who they were or where they came from.
Those lessons are stitched into who I am. They shaped the way I see business, community, and success.
The Legacy Continues: My Special Role
After the restaurant closed, my grandma still took orders to cook chitlings for events — and guess who she called to help clean them?
Me.
Even now, I don’t think many in my family know how to clean chitlings like I do. A lot just don’t want to deal with the smell or the work — I get it, it’s not for everyone. But my grandma trusted me. She knew I’d do it right.
And maybe that’s part of my calling too — to pass that knowledge down.
Because if I don’t, it could die with me.
Although chitlings may not be the most popular dish with the younger generation, I believe they’ll make a comeback. Or maybe it’s part of my purpose to bring them back. That would be one beautiful way to honor my family’s roots.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit Runs Deep
Looking back now, I realize my entrepreneurial spirit isn’t random — it’s inherited.
My grandparents were visionaries, willing to take a chance on themselves and build something from the ground up. That courage runs through my veins.
It’s why I started Dot’s Petite Bakery Co. — not just to bake desserts, but to carry forward a piece of what they started. My bakery isn’t about just selling treats. It’s about creating moments of joy, comfort, and nostalgia, the same way my grandparents did in their restaurant.
Continuing the Legacy
Dot’s Petite Bakery Co. is my love letter to them — and to everyone who ever sat at one of those Corner Kitchen tables.
It’s about community.
It’s about love in every recipe.
It’s about making people feel seen, welcomed, and cared for.
Yes, I make cakes, cookies, and sweet treats — but I also tell stories, create connections, and pass on the magic I grew up with.
My grandma’s restaurant may no longer stand on that corner, but every time I bake, every time I serve, and every time I share my work with the world, her legacy lives on.
Dot's Petite Bakery CO. 