It all started with a food trailer, named Donut Darlin’. In 2017, as a sophomore at Texas A&M University, studying Construction Science, I needed a life of a little more color! A retro 50’s diner themed trailer had my name written all over it. The trailer was named ‘Holy Crepe’, but I was not an expert crepe maker. We scratched the crepe idea and landed on mini donuts and coffee. I traveled around Texas for 4 years catering large parties, weddings, greek events and attended festivals all while going to school full time. Word traveled fast and soon we had 3 concession stands inside Kyle Field during the 2018-19 football seasons and were attending events, such as, Magnolia Silos in Waco, Texas and Formula 1 in Austin, Texas.

I continued to travel the state for a year after graduation in 2019. Living in hotels and out of my donut van had me dreaming of a place to settle down! My parents had told me of a historic building across the street from their wedding venue in this little town, called Flatonia, Texas. After wrapping up a catering event with Donut Darlin’, I made my way to Flatonia to check out this building… and when I pulled up… the large sign at the top said ‘The Darling Emporium’ - this LITERALLY had my name written all over it.

A bitter-sweet decision, turned into the biggest and best jump of my life. I sold Donut Darlin’ and everything with it, bought the building and renovated with my Dad for 7 months through COVID. My boyfriend at the time (who is now my husband, Christopher) and I, moved in above the diner and we opened the doors to Darlin’s Diner in September of 2020.

Since then, we have expanded by opening Loula’s Loft (named after our sweet daughter) - an event rental space upstairs where we once lived for 2 years. We are also opening a boutique in the building next door attached to the diner for customers to shop and enjoy mimosas while waiting for a table!

Flatonia has our hearts. And so do our customers. I love what I do, because I went my own way!