Page 14 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2021- Online Magazine

HONORING
SMALL BUSINESSES

She Had

a Dream

Dorothy Lee

by Jane Bromley Robert, Jr., Dorothy and Robert Lee

orothy and Robert Lee were “I knew it would
both born and raised in be a challenge.
DLubbock. They have been I knew I would
married 30 years and have raised have to work
seven children – presently ages 18 hard,” Dorothy
to 32. The couple are no strangers to said. “But I
hard work. Both of them grew up knew I had the
working in lots of different places, experience, and
doing many different jobs, and they I knew what I
have operated R&D Cleaning Service needed to do.”
together for over 20 years. They recently
opened a new
But Dorothy had a dream. She had location called
worked in many restaurants, starting Royal Seafood
at Church’s Chicken at the age of 15. Shack by Lee’s
Her mother raised eight children, and Café at 7604 "I have been coming to this place since it opened
Dorothy had watched and learned Milwaukee. downtown. We always know it is going to be good."
- Longtime customer Taylor Rudd
from her hard-working mother. Her According to
mama was a good cook, but Dorothy the comments on their website and commitment to show up every day.
felt she herself had a special gift for Facebook pages, it’s a booming They are serious about consistency
preparing food. She loved coming success. They have been busy and quality control. “I oversee the
up with her own recipes and serving ever since the doors opened. The cooking every day to make sure every
them up to people she knew. She also customers rave about the down-home meal is consistently high quality.”
watched and learned from the various cooking Dorothy calls “Southern Robert is totally invested in his wife’s
business owners and managers she comfort food” and “food for the dream. On the day of our interview,
worked for. soul”. the couple had just made it back into

In 2013, she opened Lee’s Café She attributes the success of her town from Killeen where they’d had
on Main and Ave. J in downtown restaurants to her original recipes. to make an overnight run for crab
Lubbock. Robert didn’t know much The lion’s share of the food is made legs. “We were out, and all three of
about the food business, but he from scratch, like their shrimp and our distributors were out. But Robert
supported her 100%. They used the crab boils and their hand-battered got online and found some,” so they
capital from Lee’s Cleaning Service to catfish. “It’s my dream. It’s my gift. hopped in the car and went to get
invest in Dorothy’s dream. They both That’s what makes us different.” them, just to make sure none of their
knew that her gift was God-given, The other factor in the success customers would be disappointed.
and they were certain her venture of the restaurant is the couple’s Robert is also now an excellent cook.
would work. Dorothy taught him, and three of

14 Lubbock Senior Link