Restaurant Owners Uncorked · 2026-04-29 · 1h 1m
Tammy Henderson and her son Garrett, co-owners of Sweet Southern Comfort Restaurant in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Tammy shares her winding journey into the restaurant industry - from a career in real estate, to brief stints with a boutique restaurant, a gas station deli, and a music venue, before finally landing in their current sit-down restaurant in a historic district. After a chaotic opening and a staffing crisis, she found her solution in J1 Jamaican workers who have since become a loyal, long-term kitchen team. Garrett, who joined intending to stay only a year, discovered a passion for the business and now helps run the front of house and bar. Together they've built a community-rooted restaurant known for quality food, genuine hospitality, and a deeply personal connection to their small town - including organizing fundraisers for neighbors in need and live Facebook kitchen tours every night. 10 Key Takeaways Quality over profit - Revenue is a byproduct of doing things right, not the primary focus. Meet staff where they are - Embracing technology and communication tools improves retention. Employee turnover is costly - Losing one employee costs roughly $5,000 in retraining.
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