In 1972 Kay and "Dirk" Dierkhising built Kay's Kitchen so St. Joseph would have a family diner where people could eat and get the news. Dirk cooked breakfast and shot the breeze with all the people. Kay put what she knew people liked on the menu and the rest is, as they say, history. Kay's Kitchen became a hub for the St. Joseph community and was well known for their Home Cookin', fresh pastries and of course, ice cream cones.

In 2009 the restaurant was purchased by Tanya (Dierkhising) Finken who extensively remodeled the restaurant and expanded the menu. The focus of Home Cookin' has never changed, breakfast is still available all day, and now there is a new expanded dinner menu.