Today we’d like to introduce you to Derrick L. Wilmore Jr..
Hi Derrick L., it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Peachtree Restaurants have been in operation since July 19th, 1996. So Peachtree has been in the community for 30 years and it was established by my grandmother, Vera Willis. In the mid 90’s, my grandmother had an idea to open a business for the community but didn’t know which way to take this idea. She completed a marketing survey at QuikTrip which is now Fast Stop on Eastwood Trafficway. She was intrigued to see exactly what the community desired and after interviewing about 100 neighborhood residents, an overwhelmingly 95 stated they’d like to see a soul food buffet. This was just confirmation of what my grandmother had been praying on for years. We began with about eight employee’s which included my mother and father. During our second day of operation, we were so busy, that we ran out of food and the rest is history.
As far as my personal journey goes, I’ve been in the education field for 14 years and coaching for 15. In June of 2025 however, I put my career on pause to come back home and elevate the business. I’ve personally been involved within the restaurant for two decades. Starting off as a dishwasher, moving to busser, server, spent time as a cook, supervisor and now operations manager for both of our locations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Marcus Aurelius stated “We were born for cooperation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, like the rows of upper and lower teeth. So to work in opposition to one another is against nature: and anger or rejection is opposition”. Building a great team to fulfill the vison and mission of Peachtree early on was definitely a struggle but over time, the pieces began to fall in place. My grandmother taught me that leadership requires delegation, hard decisions, knowledge of course, and precision/attention to detail. Having a great team alleviated the struggle of finding good people to bring the vison and mission to life.
The restaurant continuing its operation through COVID was probably the biggest test or struggle that we’ve endured more recently. The Washington Post stated by 2021, about 90,000 restaurants had closed either temporarily or permanently. The phrase that my grandmother lives by is “God Did It” and that is the only way I can explain how the Peachtree survived during the COVID era.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Peachtree specializes in soul food. We’re an industry that is based on southern down home cooking. Some of our most popular items are the oven baked macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, candied yams, smothered porkchops, and fried chicken of course,
The food is what fills the stomach but our service to the community is what fills the heart. This is what makes us unique and what sets us apart. Last year we fed over 5,000 people for free and that’s what this is all about. We focus on feeding the homeless in the Fall, the youth in the Winter with our annual Coats 4 Kids Drive, and we’re hoping to implement a program with schools across the Kansas City area that involve assisting teen mothers. God has called us to be stewards of the community, fulfilling the purpose he has for us is why we’ve been in operation for 30 years.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Send emails, dress to impress, and be unique. Closed mouths don’t get fed and honestly, there are so many people out there who want to share their story and their knowledge with people who are just as passionate about the field they’re apart of. You waste time worrying about failure, just do it!
When I say “dress to impress”, I don’t mean just for special occasions. I wear a tie everyday. This started when I was a history professor, advisor and the Head Track and Field coach at Denmark Technical College. President Todd had enforced it and I thank him for that. People treat you different when you look the part but more importantly, you act different when you look the part. And to take that even further, you aren’t remembered when you look like and act like everyone else and that leads us to the next point, to be unique.
How do you stand out compared to the next man? Why should someone invest their time in you? In order to position yourself to network effectively, you want to establish enough value from within, to be the person people want to network with. Mentorship, from my experience is a two way street. No one wants to invest in a person that isn’t serious about their craft or only wants to be great for superficial reasons. Be passionate about your field, know your vison and pursue it like a madman! #Winnerswin #108%
Pricing:
- Miss Francis: two meats, two sides, bread and drink for $14.99
- Big Mama: three meats, three sides and a bread for $18.99
- Madea: two meats and two sides for $11.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peachtreecafeteria.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peachtreerestaurants/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeachtreeCafeterias
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@peachtreerestaurants
