One business booming in bad economy

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) - Some shops just don't survive. You find plenty of "For Sale" signs in downtown Marble Falls. But just a block away from Main Street, customers can't get enough. John Kemper is one who asked for a full helping.

"Well, I grew up here, and the gentleman, Don Bridges, who owned the Blue Bonnet, was wanting to retire," said Kemper. "And every time I'd come in here, he'd just beg me to buy it, and I finally agreed."

He bought the Blue Bonnet Cafe three decades ago, and patrons keep coming back for seconds, thirds, fourths.

"The biscuits and gravy," laughed Stacey Cernosek. "Is that horrible? I love it."

"They asked each one of us," explained Holton George, "if we mind sitting at a table with people we didnt know, so thats why we wound up here."

Anything for a quick bite, some people have been waiting in line since they were kids.

"When it comes to food, we're here," said Carla Gutzler. "Especially here."

Her husband Larry added, "Two to three times a week and sometimes on the weekends."

Beyond its regulars, the Blue Bonnet has become such a popular place, it regularly sees celebrities like President George W. Bush and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Kemper says it's the five-inch high pie people can't resist.

"We just whip it up and just put the meringue on it until we like the height," he said. "We don't count egg yokes. We just put meringue on them."

A specialty that keeps growing with the business and something most want to stick around as they grow old.

Gutzler chuckled, "Yeah, I'll be using that ramp."

As the Blue Bonnet turned 80 on Tuesday, it was reason to celebrate. But Kemper said the overflowing crowd was still close to a normal day.

"We can't complain. Life is good."

Which means a future full of well-fed fans.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe also just released its 80th Anniversary Cookbook, available on site. You can experience the event further and serve a piece of pie yourself on Josh's " Living Off The Air" blog.