Every little community had one, and in the Tallent Community, it was The Denman Store that provided everything from dry goods to chicken feed, and gasoline to bulk candy.   The store was the stopping place for travelers, a gathering spot for locals; a place where information was shared, jokes were told, and even a little down-right gossip started.  It truly was the heart of the community's social environment.  

Today, the former Denman Store is still meeting the needs of the patrons it serves, they're just being served in another capacity.  

Known as the Hide-Away Café, it's still the gathering place for travelers and community alike.  Folks literally drive for miles to sit at the checkered cloth covered tables and feast on taste-tempting, home-cooked meals prepared by owner Janet (pronounced Jeanette) DeSpain.  In 1958, DeSpain could be found waiting the counter at Denman Store, never dreaming that some 30 years later (1988) she would own the building and open a restaurant!  

Janet, who had always enjoyed cooking good, down-home meals, opened the Hide-Away Café with the intention of just serving people a decent meal at a fair price.  Now, some 20 years later, she couldn't even begin to measure her success.

 "I've served literally hundreds of people, and baked thousands of yeast rolls and cinnamon rolls,” says DeSpain.  “People just keep coming back, and telling their friends - it's just been great!"  

Each Tuesday through Saturday, by 5:30 a.m. you can find Janet happily working away in the Hide-Away's kitchen.  Promptly at 7:00 a.m. the doors are open, and you'll find the Hide-Aways' regular patrons, as well as those who will dine here for the first time, entering the old general store for coffee and breakfast.So if you drop in, be sure to congratulate Janet and her staff on 20 Years of down-home cookin'.