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By David Willard
For the Clemmons Courier

Nostalgia, simply put, means memories of a better time, or times that bring back dear memories. For many, those memories are of times around the table, eating great food with family or loved ones. They are times of relishing in food that was prepared with love and with thoughts of the people that meant the most. A new business owner in Clemmons remembers those times well, and she wants to help bring back those memories for her customers.     

Payper Plates, a new food service business in Clemmons, is offering fresh Southern cooking in a drive-thru type restaurant. Faye Simmons, a High Point resident, established the business in May. Since then, she has been working hard to make her brainchild, or “leap of faith,” as she put it, a successful fast food alternative for the Clemmons community. 

“I have worked in fast food all my life, practically. As I got older and had children, I would drive by all these fast food places, I would say to myself, ‘I wish there was a place where I could get my kids a sound, or decent meal with vegetables, and we could just go home and eat that dinner with my family.’ So, I incorporated all that into my dream, and I said, ‘I am going to make something like that,’ ” says Simmons.          

Indeed, Simmons has done just that. At Payper Plates, customers can drive-thru and order a selection of Southern favorites. Customers can choose from main entrees as fried chicken, pork chops, or sliced turkey or ham. In addition, they can add some great classic vegetables such as homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, pimento mac and cheese, collards with grilled onions. There is also a good selection of various salads on the menu. 

When asked why Southern foods, Simmons response is quick and to the point. “Its because it’s what I grew up on,” she adds. “My mother was also not a big fast food person. I remember being 14 or 15 years old and coming home and having to help cook dinner. I started learning how to cook at 9. I also remember on Sundays, after church, my sisters and my mom would all get together and either everyone in the family would bring something, or we would all get in the kitchen and cook together,” she continues. 

Simmons’ love and fond memories for those times helped drive her to begin Payper Plates. Unfortunately, this passion also led to the most difficult part of starting the venture, finding employees who would not just work for Simmons, but share her vision and drive for the new business. “Sometimes it’s easy in the fast food industry to find people who just work for a paycheck and not care whether when they make that platter that it’s appealing to and appetizing to that customer. I wanted everyone to have that same mindset as me,” says Simmons. 

Simmons’ personal drive and vision for the business has paid off as Payper Plates has become a reality in Clemmons. With a good selection of great Southern fare on the menu, and a friendly smile and sweet demeanor awaiting each customer, Payper Plates is the new restaurant gem waiting to be discovered in the area. So, when planning your family’s next meal, give them the gift of good Southern cuisine, and more importantly, time to rediscover each other at the family dinner table, just like it used to be.