Richardson’s Café may be the newest dining spot in the Mathews village, but owner Lynne Davenport said she did a lot of praying before opening the eatery in late February.

Davenport, a member of Cornerstone Fellowship Church at Cobbs Creek, said she knew Mike Dixon from church and talked at length about business ideas with Dixon, a veteran manager. He agreed to become the manager of Richardson’s, which has seen a pharmacy and several restaurants in the building which they have renovated extensively.

As she assembled the staff for her restaurant, Davenport said, it just happened that about three-quarters of the 20 full- and part-time workers attend Cornerstone with her and Dixon. "We pray together at the restaurant every day," she said, because she could never have opened Richardson’s Café without faith and the dedicated efforts of her family and staff in getting the new establishment open.

Davenport is no newcomer to the Mathews restau...