Since Jim Backhus took ownership of Mom's Secret Chef in September 2012, the home cooked-style take-out and catering business has experienced a significant growth in sales, prompting plans to relocate and double in size within the next six months.

About eight years ago, Mom's Secret Chef first opened along FM 1488 in its current location and has since transitioned through three different owners. Under Backhus, the business has seen a boost in sales of about 25 to 30 percent with an average of 100 customers served each week. Backhus said the business' upcoming relocation and expansion from about 600-square-feet to 1,200-square-feet will help better accommodate both long-term and new customers.

"We will [move] the business somewhere nearby—we're not going to go far," Backhus said. "I'm sure as we grow we'll add more products and services. We're going to do more barbecue and more barbecue-related things to our current items."

Rather than solely handling managerial duties behind the scenes, Backhus can be found at the forefront of the restaurant interacting with customers and preparing meals in the kitchen throughout the week.

"We change our menu each week," Backhus said. "Our concept's a little different. We're not like when you walk into a restaurant, and you've got this entire menu to order from to take your pick. We're two to three entrees a day, usually some kind of side, some kind of simple dessert and that's what we do."

Meals and sides are prepared in the morning and sold to customers once the store opens, Backhus said. Prices for 9-inch dishes range from $17.95–$21.95 and family size portions, which feed eight to 10, range from $34.95–$38.95.

Backhus and other Mom's Secret Chef workers consistently accommodate customers' needs by structuring any repeat menu items on different days to fit busy schedules, hand-delivering meals to cars in the parking lot and providing catering at events. In addition, patrons have a chance to offer feedback and order in advance each weekend when the weekly menus are distributed to a growing email list of about 1,700 people.

"The happy customers, the repeat customers, the customers that refer their friends—we're blessed with all of that," Backhus said. "I'd say today alone [April 11], I've had four different people that have never been in before that just walked in on their own and said for one reason or another they had heard about us."

Word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers have become a large part of the business' success in the community over the years. Backhus said he enjoys serving all types of customers, ranging from those who are more talkative and personable to those who are on-the-go with busy schedules.

"Our mode of operation is we have casseroles to-go—they pick them up at the curb and take them home hot," Backhus said. "I think we make food that people want to eat. We make the kind of food that they'd cook for themselves."

Mom's Secret Chef

5135 FM 1488, Magnolia 281-259-0040, www.momssecretchef.com, Hours: Mon.–Thu. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.,Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Sat. and Sun.