A beloved soul food restaurant shows how small businesses survive big pressures

Come for the smothered pork chops and collard greens, stay for the sense of belonging—that’s the spirit at Drew’s Place, the Texas soul food restaurant that has been serving its community since 1987.

Stephanie and Andrew Thomas first opened Drew’s Place in Florence, Texas, later settling in Fort Worth. But despite the change of locations, one thing has remained central to its business: the people who walk through its doors.

“We get a lot of support from the surrounding communities and our customers are generational,” Stephanie, who co-owns the restaurant with husband Andrew, told Retail Brew. “Some of the customers that we have have been coming for years…since they were small children, when their parents and grandparents were bringing them in.”

Per American Express’s 2025 Shop Small Impact Study, 95% of small business owners say community support keeps them thriving, up from 86% in 2024, and Drew’s Place expects about a 20% to 25% uptick in shoppers on Small Business Saturday.

When the Thomases received $50,000 through American Express’s Small Business Grant program, they focused not on marketing or expansion, but on restoring their historic building, which has been standing since the 1960s.

“Because of just the daily struggles of small business, we don't have the funding to do what is needed to keep up the exterior of the building,” Stephanie said. “This grant has really given us an opportunity to do some things outside.”

Still, economic challenges persist as operating costs continue to rise. ” Stephanie said one of the biggest day-to-day hurdles is maintaining stable pricing while continuing to offer “value for money” as the business navigates higher costs from suppliers.

To ease the pressure on a significant share of their customer base—local seniors—Drew’s Place reduced the cost of its popular senior meal and added a free drink. And while a dollar off and a free beverage may not sound like much, for Drew’s Place customers, including many from nearby senior living facilities, it’s a meaningful gesture of loyalty.

“It keeps them coming is what I've noticed,” Stephanie said. “Whether they're new or have been customers for a while, they will bring somebody with them. So just that increase and uptick in the senior meals…it's all about volume.”