The morning air in downtown felt crisp as Jordan Ellis stepped out of his black SUV. Today, he didn’t wear the sharp suits or flashy watches that signaled his success. Instead, faded jeans, a worn hoodie, and a knit cap gave him the unassuming appearance of any man trudging into another long workweek. That was the point.
He crossed the street to the diner where it all began—the very first one he had opened years ago. Back then, his mother had stood in the tiny kitchen, rolling pie crusts and humming the old songs of her youth. That little diner had been more than a business; it was a promise, a dream, a place where every customer felt welcome, no matter who they were.
