Teresa Douglas and her fiancé, Roosevelt Thornton, recently opened T&R Sunrise Cafe in the former Mechanicsville Kitchen building on the west side of Owensboro. The cafe had a soft opening on October 21 followed by a grand opening the next Saturday, and Douglas said they have been “thriving since day one.”
The opportunity to open the cafe came unexpectedly.
“When Mechanisville closed, our landlord asked if we were interested in taking over the space,” Douglas said. “He was willing to buy the building if we wanted to run the cafe. It was a chance we couldn’t pass up.”
T&R Sunrise Cafe features a casual diner menu with Southern staples like burgers, fries, and Philly cheesesteaks. For those seeking a heavier meal, the cafe also serves a daily plate lunch, with meatloaf already a crowd favorite.
“We start early, opening at 5 a.m., and close at 2 p.m.,” Douglas said. “We’re here six days a week and closed on Sundays.”
Douglas began her career at the Executive Inn in Owensboro when she was 16 and has worked at local establishments such as Dee’s Diner for more than a decade. Thornton, an Atlanta native, boasts more than 30 years in the food industry.
“I love cooking and seeing people enjoy our food,” Thornton said. “We make everything fresh, and you can tell we put a lot of love into what we do.”
The cafe’s decor pays homage to its name.
“We’ve decorated with sunrise-themed art,” Douglas said. “People have even sent us photos, and we’ve printed them on canvases to hang on the walls.”
Thornton added that the atmosphere and affordable prices have quickly won over customers.
“Our prices will make you feel like you’re back in 1960,” Thornton joked. “We’re here to make a living, but we also want people to enjoy the experience without breaking the bank.”
With the community already embracing T&R Sunrise Cafe, Thornton is confident in its future.
“We’re seeing a lot of repeat customers,” he said. “That tells us we’re doing something right.”
T&R Sunrise Cafe is located at 924 Crabtree in Owensboro. Visit the restaurant’s Facebook page here to learn more.
