History and inspiration

In 2017, after living away from home for almost 34 years, Ms. Pearl Campbell, at the age of 70, returned to her hometown and opened her own restaurant, Pearl’s Diner, in Laurel, Mississippi.  The diner is nestled in the middle of the historic downtown district and has become a beacon of light for visitors from all over the world. 

After opening the diner Ms. Pearl appeared on Season 2, Episode 7, of HGTV’s Hometown series with Laurel’s own Ben and Erin Napier.  People across the United States and throughout the world fell in love with a bubbly yet stern woman of faith.  

“I looked around, and most of my friends were gone,” exclaimed Ms. Pearl when talking about first coming back to Laurel. “I asked God what in the world was I going to do?”

Her father, who is still living and is 95 years old, reminded her that she always loved to cook and that she was good at it. That sparked her childhood dream of owning her own restaurant just like her grandmother. 

Ms. Pearl and her friend Callemande “Lam” Robinson, began searching for a location for the restaurant. In the meantime, the two cooked together on several catering jobs. 

“God led the way, and I followed,” exclaimed Ms. Pearl.

Things fell into place and on September 17, 2017, Pearl’s Diner opened its doors for the first time. 

“Once the restaurant got going, Lam stepped away from it,” said Ms. Pearl, “but she’s always been available to lend a helping hand when I needed her.”

Today, Ms. Pearl is joined in the business by her two sons, Darren and Greg, her sister, Bettye Hampton, brothers DeLoran and John Campbell, niece Emon Hampton, and nephew Jabri Campbell.

“God has blessed me from day one until now to be able to serve, meet, hug, kiss, and cry with people from all over the world,” exclaimed Ms. Pearl.

Ms. Pearl got her inspiration to own her own restaurant from her grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Duncan, who owned Duncan’s Grocery, which had a restaurant inside. It was located on South 8th Avenue in Laurel and Duncan served the residents of Laurel for over 50 years from the early 30s through the 70s. Duncan also raised Pearl and her siblings after Pearl’s mother died. They lovingly called her Momma. A photo of her hangs in the diner today. 

Ms. Pearl said growing up she would watch Momma in the kitchen as she cooked at the restaurant. 

“It was exciting for me to see them in there cooking with the big pots and pans,” explained Ms. Pearl with eyes sparkling. “The thing I remember most was when she was cooking a cake, she would save me a little cake mix and I would make a cake along with her. She would put it in a little pan of its own and that would be my cake!”

Pearl’s Diner offers a menu of good ole Southern soul food. There are certain items that remain on the menu every day like her delicious fried chicken, mac and cheese, black-eyed peas, and rice and gravy.  Depending on availability, different main menu items and sides are added each day. For instance, Thursdays are usually Meatloaf Thursdays with a choice of other main dishes like the fried chicken, baked chicken, ribs, and fried pork chops.  In addition, collard greens or turnip greens may be available and are added to the menu along with candied yams and lima beans or green beans, to name a few. Each day visitors to Pearl’s Diner have a choice of at least four main dishes and six sides. Follow Ms. Pearl on Instagram or Facebook and you will see the daily menu posted there as well as on this Website. Instagram: #eatatpearls. Facebook: Pearl’s Diner.

Pearl’s Diner is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.