In the heart of Clarkesville, Georgia, Mr. Biscuit arrives each day, ready to serve Northeast Georgia’s breakfast and BOBA crowd. The first smile to greet you? His own—beaming from a sign at the front desk, offering a warm welcome and a promise of top-notch service in a cozy, cheerful café, located at 596 W Louise Drive, Suite D, Clarkesville, Georgia.
Desiree Childs and her son Tyler own Mr. Biscuits Café, which stands as a testament to the power of purpose, faith, and relentless determination to make it work—one hard decision, bold pivot, and fresh batch of biscuits at a time.
A leap of faith and a bold pivot
Mr. Biscuits began as Alabaster’s, a Christian specialty drink store founded by Dana Pardue. Dana’s vision was to create a warm, faith-filled environment where customers could find more than just good coffee—comfort and connection. The strain proved too heavy when Dana expanded from her original Cornelia location into Clarkesville. Faced with tough decisions, Dana ultimately chose to sell the business to her friend and longtime supporter, Desiree Childs, and her son, Tyler.
The mother-son duo initially planned to keep the business as Alabaster’s. But one afternoon, while chatting with fellow businessman Richard Avirett—who had recently transformed Rich & Savvy Cigar and Bourbon Lounge into the upscale cocktail café 1442, complete with charcuterie, fine finger foods, and live music—Desiree began to reconsider. Inspired by Richard’s reinvention, she discussed new possibilities for her own venture.
As the two business owners discussed the importance of bold decisions, a passerby—someone who had never visited the café before, wasn’t a local, and had stumbled upon it—made an offhand remark that struck a chord: “Whatever is holding you back—don’t let it. Won’t He do it?”
Inspired by both her faith and this stranger’s words, Desiree decided to completely rebrand the business, embracing change with newfound courage. “Won’t He do it?” became the motto for their leap of faith.
Trimming the excess, preserving the essentials
Desiree, with her sharp eye for efficiency, became a master of streamlining. With the precision of a scalpel and the force of a meat cleaver, she trimmed excess costs, restructured the business model, and refocused the menu on items that truly resonated with the community.
Gone were products that didn’t sell consistently; instead, Desiree zeroed in on what worked and embraced flexibility, understanding that success doesn’t come from stubbornly clinging to a failing Plan A—it comes from making Plan A work by cutting out distractions and waste.
The brilliantly strategic addition of BOBA—an underutilized yet beloved favorite among young people—along with signature lattes and modern merchandising, including custom-loaded tea packets for at-home enjoyment, has expanded their offerings while keeping their core focus intact.
After thoughtfully restructuring the team to improve efficiency, Desiree found her Infinity Stone in Larissa—an essential piece that completes the glove and balances the entire operation.
Just as the perfect Infinity Stone empowers its wielder with unparalleled strength, Larissa’s dedication, efficiency, and reliability elevate Mr. Biscuits to its full potential. With her in place, Desiree and Tyler can confidently cover the other shifts, knowing they have a powerhouse holding everything together.
In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of small business, finding that one indispensable employee—someone who fits seamlessly into the vision and executes with precision—is as rare and valuable as assembling the ultimate gauntlet for success. Hence, Child’s stated commitment to holding onto Larissa with both hands.
Faith and fortitude in the face of risk
Pivoting isn’t easy. Desiree and Tyler took a significant financial risk, cashing out their 401k’s to fund the purchase of the cafe. They left behind job security—Desiree had previously worked at the sheriff’s office—and committed fully to their new vision, diving in feet first.
Yet, their faith remains steadfast. Desiree trusts that God has called her to this path, and that conviction drives her decisions. Playing Christian music in the cafe and fostering a hospitable, uplifting environment is a conscious choice to keep the cafe grounded in the values and mission established with the original Alabasters.
The power of community
The overwhelming support for Alabaster’s Café is undeniable. With over 7.2 thousand Facebook followers and nearly 1.5 thousand Instagram followers, Desiree didn’t just purchase a coffee shop—she embraced a beloved local brand with a deeply loyal customer base.
This outpouring of support speaks not only to the exceptional quality of their food and drinks but also to the trust Dana and Desiree have fostered through authenticity and hard work.
Even after Dana passed the torch, the community’s devotion remained steadfast, a testament to the lasting impact both women have made on those who visit the café and follow their journey.
Staying flexible and focused
Desiree understands that success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about discipline and clarity. She continuously evaluates what works and what doesn’t, refining her business model as needed while maintaining consistency in the essentials, such as proper stock management and reliable operating hours.
This is meaningful as the failure rate for new specialty drink-themed restaurants is notably high. According to a 2019 survey, approximately 17% of independent cafes close within their first year, and around 62% fail within the first five years of operation.
By tracking the ebb and flow of customer habits—like the after-school rush for boba or the morning demand for breakfast—Desiree keeps Mr. Biscuits both adaptable and efficient. She avoids relying too heavily on one trend while also maintaining a focused, curated menu, striking the perfect balance between variety and specialization.
This ability to read the community zeitgeist could become even more important with the arrival of Myth and Legends, a well-funded powerhouse led by Doug Cole, set to take over the space formerly known as Cowboy Bob’s—along with the growing presence of corporate chains offering similar products with lower quality but faster pickup times.
Mr. Biscuits is not fast food. Here, patience pays off. Every 30 to 60 minutes, a fresh batch of buttery biscuits emerges from the oven, ensuring each bite is as warm and flaky as it should be. The bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit—a menu staple—is at its best straight from the oven, when the biscuit practically melts into the filling. And if a batch is finishing up? Well, patience is a virtue, and a 10 to 15-minute wait is a small price to pay for a biscuit that’s just kissed by the oven.
“People need to experience that fresh-out-of-the-oven moment,” says Desiree. “We make small batches more often.”
However, it’s not just the biscuits that have customers raving. The New York kettle-boiled bagels bring a taste of Manhattan to Clarkesville, while the sugar-free yet flavor-packed loaded teas have developed a near-cult following. One standout, Pineapple Sunrise, delivers a bright, tropical fusion of pineapple, orange, peach, and coconut. And for those who love a little extra texture, boba can be added to anything on the menu.
Among the café’s bestsellers, strawberry popping boba bursts with fruity sweetness, while the tapioca pearls, cooked fresh in-house every morning, set a rare standard for quality in the boba world.
Coffee lovers will find plenty to enjoy with the Riso latte, a rich and unexpected blend of raspberry, white mocha, and French vanilla. And for a savory option, the chicken salad offers a light yet satisfying counterbalance to all the indulgence.
Since opening in July, Desiree’s vision has steadily gained momentum. Sales surged in October, and while January is typically a slow month for coffee shops, Mr. Biscuits not only held steady but thrived. Then came February—a notoriously difficult time for the industry—yet the café once again defied expectations, attracting even more customers.
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Conclusion
The transformation of Alabaster’s into Mr. Biscuits Café over the past year proves that success isn’t just about good ideas—it demands courage, faith, and the resolve to make tough choices. By trusting God, eliminating waste, and focusing on what truly works, Desiree has strengthened her business and cemented its place as a beloved cornerstone of the Clarkesville community. And in time, we may just find the answer to the question: Won’t He do it?
