The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Laura Wilhite, The Quill
Diana Kreps Mealey talks about her business Tink’s Cafe that is located on Main Street in Blandinsville.
When did you start cooking? Was this a childhood passion?
I started working at The Tastee Freez in 1984 as a waitress and then a grill cook. My mom was a wonderful cook but I really had no interest in it. I learned a lot about cooking from Donna Grisham.
When you told your family that you were wanting to open a restaurant were they supportive?
My family has always been supportive. My son Blake was 16 at the time I bought Tinks and with college fast approaching I knew I had to do something so I took a chance.
When did you open Tinks?
I bought the restaurant on June 8, 2004 and opened up on June 9th.
What were the first 5 years like? Did you get a lot of business?
The first 5 years were good but the last 5 years have been the busiest. Since covid I have been blessed with a lot of newcomers in addition to all my faithfuls.faithful.
How many meals did you serve in 2024?
Last year we served over 43,000 meals.
How do people hear about Tinks?
Tinks has been a restaurant in the same building for 101 years. Word of mouth, and Facebook gets our name out there.
What are the most popular items on your menu?
I would say our burgers, phillys and chicken strips are our most popular items.
Our Tuesday Fried chicken fried up by Bonnie Stokke is so popular and meatloaf is always a big hit.
Mexican on Wednesday night and Catfish on Friday nights are our two big nightly specials. Lucretia McPeaks pizza is always a favorite too.
What advice do you have for someone that is thinking about opening up their own business in this area?
The advice I would give someone is to prepare yourself for long hours and be a giver it really comes back to you!