Derrick Coley Goes From Cooking In Front Yard To Opening Demario’s Soul Food Restaurant
GARNER, NC – Garner, North Carolina is a small town located in Southeastern Wake County, south of Raleigh, that’s known for the High School’s outstanding football, basketball, and baseball programs and their alumnus – Scotty McCreery – 2011 American Idol Winner.
However, it will soon also be known for a Soul Food restaurant located in the White Oak Shopping Center named Demario’s Classic Catering. Opened in 2020, Demario’s is known for its “Soul Food Cooking,” which reminds you of those delicious Sunday meals that your mother and/or grandmother cooked growing up. The restaurant features slow-smoked barbecued meats, and homemade side dishes such as Mac & Cheese, Candied Yams, Fried Okra, and Corn on the Cob, with their amazing Lemonade. Plus, their fried chicken is really good. The place has outstanding customer service and leaves you wanting to come back for more.
Recently, I had the chance to meet with the owner, Derrick Coley (no relation to Spectacular Magazine CEO/Publisher Phyllis Coley).
Q: Mr. Coley, how did Demario’s become a thing?
Coley: Demario’s started by me just cooking in my front yard here in Garner, North Carolina. On the weekends, I used to cook on Saturdays and Sundays just to make a little extra money. It then went from there to moving into this building. One of my buddies who own this building was getting out of the restaurant business and asked me if I wanted to try it out and come inside for a while. I said, “Yeah, well, let’s try and see and I’ll give you five years and I’ll see where I want to go from there!”
Q: What is the workplace culture like in Demario’s?
Coley: We have a lot of soul food, with a mixture of different ethnic groups coming in to eat. You’d be surprised to see who likes Chitlins. Everybody likes Chitlins! I try to cook from the soul – It comes from the soul for most people. I want people to eat like I eat – something good and something that’ll stay with you!
Q: What qualities do you look for in potential employees?
Coley: Well, I look for someone with a good personality. Someone who’s going to be outstanding, pleasant, and not afraid to talk to people. I also look for someone who is honest and hardworking! I seek someone who is looking forward to going to work and not being lazy! That’s what I’m looking for!
Q: Does Demario’s give back to the community?
Coley: A lot of people still don’t know about us. It’s mostly through word of mouth. We’re doing a little advertising and we’re coming along. We’re ahead out of the rig and not in the rig!
Q: What advice do you have for potential individuals who want to own a restaurant or a business in general?
Coley: Just go for what you want to do. If you have a dream, don’t let anyone tell you not to do it! If you have a dream to do something, go ahead and do it, because you never know what will happen until you do it! If you never do it, it’ll be the wrong thing you’ve ever done!
Demario’s is open from 11 AM – 8 PM on Wednesdays-Sundays, as they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Follow Demario’s on Facebook.
Come on out to Demario’s!!! You will never be disappointed!
This website makes me hungry; What’s your number 1 tip for bbq? Thanks
Hi Robt, so many different tips. Probably my top three tips would be:
1. When you’re putting the food on the grill, make sure that you don’t overcrowd it. This will make it harder to get evenly cooked food.
2. Once the food is on the grill, resist the urge to keep flipping it. Let it cook for a few minutes before flipping so that you don’t end up with dry, overcooked meat.
3. If you’re using a charcoal grill, be careful not to let the coals get too hot. You can always add more if they start to cool down too much.
Enjoy your bbq