At Magnolia Room Cafeteria in Tucker, GA, the people behind the line are as important as the food on the plate. Each member of the kitchen and service team helps keep the operation running with care and consistency. Owner Louis Squires says, “Our food is good because our people are good. Everyone here takes pride in what they do.”
Who’s in the Kitchen?
The Magnolia Room kitchen crew includes 12 full-time staff. They cover cooking, prep, dishwashing, and service. Each member has a specific role and follows a clear routine.
Maria – Head cook for meats. She starts her day at 6:00 AM and manages the oven and fryers. She prepares more than 200 pieces of fried chicken every Sunday.
James – Vegetable station lead. He cooks green beans, squash, and greens from scratch every morning.
Carolyn – Dessert prep. She makes banana pudding, cobbler, and pies in small batches to keep them fresh.
Tina and DeShawn – Front line servers. They greet guests, plate food, and answer questions.
Luis and Andre – Dish and cleanup team. They keep the kitchen clean and ready throughout the day.
Squires explains, “Every person here matters. If one person is out, we all feel it. That’s how much we rely on each other.”
Staff by the Numbers
70% of the current team has worked at Magnolia Room for over 5 years
The kitchen crew preps over 500 pounds of food per week
Team members serve more than 600 guests every Sunday
These numbers reflect strong teamwork and consistent effort.
Serving Tucker with Care
Tucker, GA is a city of over 37,000 residents in DeKalb County. Many guests know the Magnolia Room staff by name. Regulars visit each week, often greeting cooks and servers with a wave or a smile.
“Our guests come here for the food, but they return because of the people,” says Squires. “They trust our team, and that means everything to us.”
Staff Values
Each team member is trained to follow the same core values:
Show up on time
Keep workspaces clean
Follow the recipe
Treat guests with respect
Support your coworkers
This structure helps Magnolia Room stay consistent through busy seasons, holidays, and every-day service.