Everyone warned Danny Holley before he opened his restaurant that the location would not work and that the timing was not right. Naysayers predicted it would close in three to six months, just like other nearby restaurants, he said.
But nearly five years later, Conroe’s Whistle Stop Cafe has amassed a loyal customer base that continues to grow, Danny said.
“It’s been difficult, but our service makes us successful,” he said. “I am here every day—I can’t remember the last time I was not—and every customer who comes in the door is greeted. I think you can have all of the business experience in the world, but if you can’t make people feel welcome and comfortable, it’s just different.”
Before opening Whistle Stop, Danny worked in real estate and said he benefited from a different outlook on the restaurant business. When restaurants were underperforming and owners were looking for a way out, Danny said he would help keep the business afloat until the owner could make arrangements.
