WILLARD, Mo. — Over a year ago, Darla’s Diner owner Darla Johnson had to black out her windows.
Despite speculation about remodeling or shutting down the small-town eatery, Johnson couldn’t disclose why she was transforming her restaurant.
“They came in with a crew, probably about eight people, roughly. There was a sound crew. There was a lighting person, and a person that was doing the interview, and different people in the crew doing various jobs,” Johnson said. “Anything that was lighting up, they darkened. Customers were asking if I was remodeling and what was going on. I couldn’t talk about it because when I agreed to host at my diner, they asked me to sign an NDA.”…