A line of people stretched down the block to receive a free plate of food from Diner’s Delight at its recent grand re-opening. Some 300 people came out to celebrate with the near South Side soul food restaurant, which has been on the scene for 40 years.
Diner’s Delight, located at 1504 S. Compton Ave., benefitted from the 6th Ward Refresh Your Business program. Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett is using community development dollars allocated to the ward to help long-standing small businesses to expand or renovate.
Those funds helped significantly with the renovation of Diner’s Delight, a community fixture even with its previous, homely furnishings. The building now has new windows, floors, furniture, outside patio, landscaping and a new paved parking lot.
Owner Jo Alma Houston felt blessed by the support and was left speechless and overwhelmed by the overcrowding of individuals at the re-opening.
“It’s beautiful. I never thought it’ll be this much. It’s just a blessing,” Houston said.
With the new renovation, Houston hopes to provide a more comfortable dining environment for her loyal customers in the community.
“Diner’s Delight is the perfect example of the work we are doing in the 6th Ward to invest in small businesses,” said Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett.
“Diner’s Delight has demonstrated their commitment to the neighborhood and the city of St. Louis by being in business for more than 40 years.”
With the help of family and friends, the restaurant returned the love to its loyal customers at the grand re-opening.
“I wanted to give back,” Houston said, of offering free food.
Two St. Louis police officers, Roxann Ali and Cheryl Orange, took their lunch break and sat outside of Diner’s Delight, in the new patio section beside the restaurant.
“I’m like a member of the family. I’ve known them for 30-plus years,” Ali said.
“This is truly an reflection of the kind of people they are. They have big open, giving hearts.”
“It’s really beautiful,” Orange said, of the renovation.
“To really appreciate everything, you would have to know what it was before. She gives back to the community.”
Houston’s daughter, Valerie Haynes, was happy to see how much impact was made by Diner’s Delight serving the community.
“We’ve known some of the people for so many years,” Haynes said.
“Not only was the business in the community, but we lived in the community. They’re friends and family.”
Houston and her late husband, Herman, opened the restaurant in 1969. They made the decision to start a business to provide the means for their children to attend college. Both grew up in the South and enjoyed cooking soul food dishes.
Neither Herman nor Houston had completed high school, but they wanted their children to have the opportunity to complete their education.
Over the years, not only have their children worked alongside them in the family business, but their grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. Some have gone on to complete college degrees or start their own businesses.
“It felt wonderful, and we are so appreciative,” Haynes said at the grean re-opening.
“It just confirmed we have wonderful customers and they’ve been so loyal to us.”
