FEATURE STORY

FamilyA ffair

Downtown D’lites celebrates 10th anniversary as community hub

BY LUCAS STROUGH | lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com PHOTOS BY LUCAS STROUGH

Downtown D’lites, a well-loved purveyor of handmade salads, sandwiches and more, has a long history in downtown Kilgore. That history is much deeper than the food they serve that is so well-loved by Kilgoreites.

The restaurant celebrated 10 years in business on Feb. 1.

“Oh my, it is with grateful hearts that we look back and realize we have been there this long.” Owner Debbie VanDoren said. “When we first had the idea to buy D'Lites from our friends back in 2011, that idea must have come from God, because owning a restaurant was nothing we had any experience in whatsoever! I have always loved making food and loved people, so the two loves have combined into our D'Lites experience well.”

The restaurant first opened as Downtown D’Lites Frozen Yogurt Bar and Café and was first opened by Larie Hurton and her father, Gary Beasley.

At the site, the former location of Nanny Goats Café, the new owners enlisted the help of family members as the restaurant grew, adding a lunch menu and eventually a made-to-order selection of salads, wraps and more.

Just a year into its existence, the co-owners opted to spend more time with their family and put the building up for sale. Debbie’s husband Alan suggested they buy it and start a new venture.

“When Alan and I first bought D'Lites from the Beasley/Hurton families, we had no specific plans on how long we would do this… and we still do not… our plan is simply to keep running D'Lites as long as we feel that is where God wants us to be. And thus we are grateful that He still has us here in downtown Kilgore,” Debbie said.

The downtown Kilgore of 2022 is not the same as it was 10 years ago. Many downtown merchants have come and gone,

2

1 3 4

1. Customers can enjoy Downtown D'lites' many offerings inside or at several sidewalk tables outside. The cafe's staff, including owner Debbie VanDoren, 3, work to bring delicious and satisfying meals to patrons.

and some businesses have passed to new owners. Some of the historic, decades-old buildings have undergone renovations, from a new coat of paint to refacing work. Many of the downtown improvements have come about as the result of collaboration between downtown business and city government.

“The businesses on our immediate block have changed faces quite a number of times over the years. There have been some wonderful neighbors to get to know that have contributed in many ways to the downtown atmosphere,” Debbie said.

She credits some of the improvements to City of Kilgore employees who led a push to revitalize and renovate Kilgore’s historic downtown area.

“We have also seen quite a number of Main Street Managers, again, who have contributed in various ways to Kilgore's downtown experience,” Debbie said. “I was reminded in particular the other day, of Sonya Waters, one of our Main Street Managers, when a couple ladies came in to eat that were just passing through Kilgore on a road trip and mentioned that they found us by following Kilgore's ‘wayfinding signs’ to downtown Kilgore, and I remember Sonya working with the city to make that happen.”

The wayfinding signs, which point the way to various notable sites and districts in Kilgore, went up in September 2020. It was a boon during an otherwise unpredictable year for Kilgore merchants, as the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many did business. Some restaurants began offering pickup orders and curbside services and others changed hours and worked to stay open.

“Every business owner and manager, and many more caring people, have made their mark on our downtown district. We currently are quite excited to have had the same neighbors for quite some time, who are supportive and encouraging and fun comrades in downtown Kilgore,” Debbie said.

For years, Downtown D’lites has been a family affair. When they first opened, it was just Debbie and husband Alan along with some of their kids. Since opening, six of the eight VanDoren children have worked at the restaurant on a regular basis, in addition to friends of the family and from church. Alan heads up accounting, maintenance and construction projects while Debbie can be seen front-of-house during the lunch rush or whipping up something new in the kitchen.

These days, Debbie is the only VanDoren family member working at D’Lites on a daily basis, but local children and grandchildren work as needed.

Running a restaurant for a decade will, like any business or venture, have its ups and downs, but the VanDorens feel the experience has been as good for them as it has been for their customers, many of whom find a shared community at the establishment.

“I have so many treasured memories from over these years that point to the same source — our beloved customers/friends and our supportive family,” Debbie said.

“Several years ago, there were three different groups of people who often found themselves at D'Lites for lunch close to the same time, and so they often would sit together for lunch. One day Keith walked in with his friend Gary, and noticed the others already seated, and he called out, ‘Oh look, we're all home for lunch today!’ That warmed my heart...it's exactly the way I hope people feel — at home at D'Lites.”

Many of her best experiences at the restaurant come from family.

“Very recently our 4-year-old granddaughter was in for lunch with her mom. Sophie was watching while she ate lunch, and apparently noticed my interactions with people as they ordered lunch, and as I greeted many of them by name. She asked her mama, ‘Are all these people in here Gramma's friends?!’ Yes, Sophie, that's what I like to call our customers — our friends.”

Stroll into the restaurant on any given day during a busy hour, and you’ll see smiling faces, at the booths, at the outside dining area and behind the counter. Many of the people working and serving are family or longtime friends, and the same goes for the customers.

“People that come to D'Lites usually will see me at the register ready to take orders,” Debbie said.

“And they will see our delightful (pun intended!) team of young people that prepare food and serve customers. But what they may miss seeing unless they happen to come at the right time, are our family members who are also an important part of D'Lites. It's family that dreams with me, puts dreams into action, designs t-shirts, plans menu layout, creates flyers and coupons, plans special events, gives hiring suggestions, taste tests new recipes and encourages me on the discouraging days. It is family, specifically my wonderful hubby Alan, who handles all the bookwork, payroll, taxes, repairs and remodel jobs. It's family that runs to the store to buy the veggies I forgot to pick up, or fills in when we have a last minute staffing need, or runs a delivery that we couldn't fit in ourselves. It's the family, both local in Kilgore and also in states across the country, that give feedback to new ideas and valuable insights.”

Above all, the D’lites family knows their true drive and inspiration comes from a higher source.

“What has been most helpful to keeping our little cafe going for these 10 years is God Himself,” Debbie said.

“As a staff, we make it our aim to pray together before beginning each lunch hour, asking God to give us strength, wisdom, keenness of mind, the ability to prepare good food, joy in our journey, and the ability to carry out our work in a way that honors God. To be able to talk to God, and ask His help in all aspects of the business is something I am deeply grateful for.”

It has been an ever-changing experience at the restaurant. As the years have passed, they have adapted to new opportunities, unexpected working and business conditions in 2020 and beyond; all while keeping their focus on God and family to continue delivering freshly-made favorites locals tell their friends about.

“God has used word-of-mouth from great customers, Facebook and Instagram opportunities, our friends at KNH, and many businesses, schools, and faithful customers to keep Downtown D'Lites going strong in downtown Kilgore. We look forward to all He has in store in the years to come. Thanks for 10 great years!”

GOLF AND EVENT CENTER

D i s c ov e r you r p e r fect sw i n g Mead MeadowbrookKilgore.comowbrookKilgore.com | 903-984-3155