Valley woman days away from celebrating a lifelong dream-- opening her very own restaurant

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- To feed the thousands of customers she plans on serving at her new restaurant Gloria Hall needs a big kitchen. The Fresno woman got her start cooking as a young girl-- with inspiration from her mother.

"She loved cooking like nobody's business; I truly think she passed that down to me. I mean-- I wake up thinking about cooking."

Hall got her 'professional' start in her home kitchen in the early 90s-- cooking for just her family members. Then, after outgrowing that space, she rented out a corner of a convenience store in Southeast Fresno.

"It just seemed liked everywhere I go people follow me-- they just love my food."

According to Hall, even out of towners from as far as Las Vegas and LA travel to the Valley just to get a taste of her southern style.

"They said, wanted to know what the hype was about out. Everyone was talking about Dolls Kitchen-- it was a little place!"

So with the opening of her very own space Hall will be able to feed even more of her loyal customers. She said the key to her success goes beyond following recipes left behind by her mother.

"I love people. I love to see the smile on their faces when they eat my food and I know I'm doing something right."

Hall's mother passed long before getting to see her live out her dream, but each day the memory of her mother lives on a wall, and through the restaurant's name.

"She taught me what I know and the passion she has for food she instilled in me and I just want to keep it going."

The new Doll's Kitchen is at Chestnut and McKinley. Everyone is invited to their grand opening celebration this Saturday-- the party starts at noon.