Former Hammond employee cooks up a new career

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Tera Weems, shown Friday, Jan. 6, 2011, opened her restaurant, Regina's Southern Cuisine, about a month ago in Hammond, Ind. The restaurant features southern home cooking. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Updated: February 17, 2012 8:04AM

When planning for retirement, most people are looking to put the everyday work world behind them.

Not Hammond resident Tera Regina Weems.

After retiring from her job as office manager for the City of Hammond in September, she’s embarked on a new career as business owner. The doors to Regina’s Southern Cuisine Restaurant opened in December.

“Everyone has always adored my cooking, and every time I ate out with my family, they encouraged me to start my own restaurant,” she said. “The more they talked, the more I began to think about it.”

So instead of planning a leisurely retirement, Weems began to research her future second career.

The food choices offered are the type Weems grew up with. Smothered pork chops, sweet potato pie and peach cobbler are among the menu’s offerings.

Although the majority of current customers place takeout orders, a spacious dining room also is available for those wanting to eat in.

“We were overwhelmed during our grand opening (Dec. 12), and also on the first Sunday we were open,” she said. “There are four churches in the immediate area and many of those members came in for lunch.”

Weems is optimistic and confident about the eatery’s popularity. “I know in my heart that I made the right decision, this is where I should be.”

The building has housed a credit union, dentist office and other restaurants in the past.

One positive for the new owner was the fully-equipped kitchen that came with the lease agreement. There was a lot of remodeling to be done, and buying new kitchen equipment wasn’t in the budget.

Family members assisted Weems with the other renovations, such as painting, decorating and installing a new floor.

Maurice Shelton lives across the street from the new eatery and is happy to see the southern-type food in his neighborhood. He was among the first customers, looking forward to Regina’s recipes, as he is a friend of the family and always enjoyed her unique cooking.

“I’ve seen many restaurants come and go here, none stayed very long,” Shelton said. “But I’m confident Regina’s will be here for a long time. There’s easy access for customers, great food, consistent quality — what more can you ask for?”

Mary Devon of East Chicago agrees.

“I drive by here every day when I go to work, and wanted to give it a try,” she said. “I love home cooking but don’t have the time to do it. The owner knew what she was doing when she settled on this busy street.”

There are a few things about business ownership that Weems wasn’t expecting. “The most challenging part of operating a restaurant is putting in the long hours,” she said, “I have to keep my energy up and check on stock daily.”

But there’s the flip side that motivates her even further to grow her new place.

“The most enjoyable thing is when someone compliments my food and tells me that they will be back — and will bring friends with them.”