Her Secret Garden, Rockwall fixture, closed after 20 years

by Teresa Gubbins

ROCKWALL — After more than 20 years, Her Secret Garden, a catering operation and lunch-spot in Rockwall, shut down due to a fatal increase in the rent, confirmed owner Diane Palermo.

"It blew me away when they gave me a 30-day notice," Palermo said. "I just couldn't do it."

Palermo had endured two years of construction on Route 205, but with construction done and a new CostCo completed, she speculated that the landlord expected to be able to get higher rent. "Now it's sitting there vacant," she said.

Her Secret Garden served lunch six days a week with a classic tea-room type menu including chicken salad, sandwiches, a daily quiche, bread trays, and desserts.

"I was there more than 20 years -- I was a landmark in Rockwall," she said. "There's no place like it."

Along with lunch, the place was also a popular choice for catered parties, which Palermo has continued to do.

"My big thing was I loved the parties on Saturday," she said. "We did a lot of bridal, baby, wedding, graduation. I can still do it, but at someone else's facility. A lot of people also want to do showers in their homes."

She's keeping an eye out for another facility but meanwhile can be reached at 972-771-5517.

Thanks to Lauren Allison for tip!