March 13, 1942, Earl and Agnes Lambert with 14 cents between them, borrowed $1500 from Tish Jones and with 5 employees opened for business in a small building on South Main Street in Sikeston Missouri. It consisted of a 9 stool counter and 8 tables for a total seating capacity of 41 people. Their policy of serving vegetables, meat and dessert was immediately established. These were trying years for everyone, World War II and severe rationing made restaurant operation extremely difficult. The war years were greeted with many meatless days and supplies of all kinds were in short supply --- but somehow and some way they were able to hang on.