Meet Katina Stith

OWNER OF PKK SOUTHERN CUISINE

Before Katina and Joseph Stith ever imagined owning a restaurant together, their lives were already shaped by years of movement, service, and faith. Their journey unfolded across different cities and seasons of life, with moments that did not always follow the path they expected. Through both the challenges and the blessings along the way, Katina says their faith remained the constant that helped guide them forward. Food, however, had always been a part of their respective journeys, rooted in family traditions and memories formed in kitchens where recipes were passed down from one generation to the next.

Growing up, Katina spent many summers in North Carolina learning to cook beside her great aunt. As a child she would stand on a chair at the stove, carefully watching and helping prepare dishes like collard greens and green beans while absorbing the rhythms of Southern cooking. Joseph had similar memories growing up with his grandmother, whose home was known as the place where family gathered around food and conversation.

As Joseph continued his career following his service in the Air Force, the couple moved across the country several times. Through every move and transition, food remained a constant that quietly continued shaping the vision they would one day build together. When Joseph’s work in the wind turbine industry eventually brought him to Corpus Christi in 2013, Katina had never even heard of the city. What began as another relocation slowly became something more meaningful, and over time the Coastal Bend became home.

“When we look back, we can see that God was guiding every step of the journey,” she says. “Even when we didn’t understand what was happening at the time, everything was preparing us for what was ahead.”

For the first eight years after arriving, Katina devoted herself to human trafficking prevention and victim advocacy. Building on more than two decades of work supporting survivors, she served as director of a human trafficking initiative through Church Unlimited, helping train community members, educate the public, and connect survivors with critical resources. The work was deeply meaningful but also emotionally demanding. Eventually she began to sense that a new chapter was approaching. Looking back, she says faith played an important role in that transition, as well.

The opportunity that would eventually lead them to PKK Southern Cuisine arrived through an unexpected conversation. One day Joseph heard from a coworker that a local restaurant owner was preparing to sell his business. Knowing how often he and Katina had talked about opening a restaurant together, he shared the news with her right away. For Katina, the moment felt like the door opening to something she had been quietly preparing for - years earlier she had earned a business degree as part of a long-term plan to eventually open a restaurant. That conversation led them to meet Dr. Portis, the longtime owner of Portis Kountry Kitchen.

When Katina and Joseph first visited the restaurant, they stepped into a place that already held deep meaning for the community. After learning about the restaurant’s history and the relationships built there over the years, the couple made the decision to take a leap of faith and purchase the business. As Katina and Joseph prepared to take over the restaurant, Katina joined a mentorship program through Del Mar College where she was paired with a business mentor who offered guidance during the transition.

“You have something special here already,” he told her. “This restaurant has a history and people in this community know it. If something isn’t broken, you don’t rush in and change it. You respect what people already love while you slowly build your own vision.”

When the Stiths officially took over the restaurant in 2021, it was located in the basement of the Wells Fargo building downtown. The space was not the environment Katina had originally imagined for their restaurant, but it became an important starting point. The basement location gave them the opportunity to learn the realities of running a restaurant while introducing themselves to the community. Within just thirty days of reopening, customers were lining up down the hallway for lunch. The response confirmed that they were on the right path. For Katina, the experience reinforced an important lesson. Even humble beginnings can lead to something meaningful – this was only the beginning of the restaurant’s journey.

At the time the restaurant still operated with a buffet style setup where customers moved quickly through the line. However, when they had previously envisioned their restaurant concept, Katina and Joseph imagined something different. They wanted to create a place where people could sit down, slow down, and enjoy the experience rather than rush through a meal. After about a year and a half in the Wells Fargo basement location, the Stiths began searching for a new space that would better reflect that vision. When they found their current location, the pieces began to fall into place.

With the new location came a new name. The couple chose PKK Southern Cuisine to mark a new chapter built upon an existing legacy that many locals already cherished. The new space allowed them to build the kind of restaurant they had been dreaming about for years. It felt warm, welcoming, and intentional. Guests were encouraged to relax, enjoy the music, and linger over their meals.

Part of Katina’s mission has also been to educate guests about the history behind the food they serve. While many people use the terms soul food and Southern food interchangeably, she explains that there is an important distinction. Soul food historically refers to the resourceful dishes created from the limited ingredients enslaved people were given generations ago. Southern cuisine reflects the broader culinary traditions of the American South. Inside the restaurant, the Stiths even include educational signage that helps explain the distinction so guests can better understand the history behind the food being served. Many of the dishes at PKK Southern Cuisine are inspired by recipes passed down through generations, including those from Joseph’s grandmother and Katina’s great aunt. Their photos hang proudly on the restaurant’s walls as a reminder of the family members whose love for cooking helped inspire the restaurant.

Beyond the food itself, Katina and Joseph wanted the restaurant to offer something deeper for the community. From the moment guests walk through the doors, the goal is to create a sense of calm. Jazz music fills the space throughout the day. Tables are set with candles and fresh flowers, and the environment is designed to feel peaceful and welcoming. Each morning before opening, the staff gathers together to pray for the day ahead and for the guests who will soon arrive. For Katina, the restaurant is meant to be a place where people can step away from the pace of everyday life.

“A lot of people are moving fast all day long,” she says. “We wanted to create a space where someone could sit down, listen to good music, enjoy their food, and feel a sense of peace. Sometimes people just need a moment to breathe.”

Live music also plays an important role in the atmosphere they envisioned. Years ago while visiting San Francisco, Katina and Joseph walked into a small restaurant where musicians were casually playing jazz. The lighting was soft, the atmosphere relaxed, and the moment stayed with them long after the trip ended. It became the inspiration for creating a similar environment of their own where great food and live music could come together. Today that vision continues through the restaurant’s First Friday Jazz Nights, which take place during the downtown First Friday ArtWalk. Local and traveling musicians perform live while guests enjoy dinner, creating an experience that blends music, community, and Southern hospitality.

Even while managing the restaurant, Katina remains deeply involved in community work. She serves as Membership Director for the Corpus Christi Black Chamber of Commerce, helping strengthen connections among local businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the city. She also continues supporting human trafficking prevention efforts through education, training, and awareness initiatives. While she no longer works in the daily frontline advocacy role she once held, the cause remains close to her heart.

The restaurant itself has become another way for the Stiths to give back. They host annual military appreciation events, support local student groups, and look for opportunities to serve the community whenever they can. For Katina and Joseph, PKK Southern Cuisine represents more than a restaurant. It reflects years of preparation, family traditions, faith, and perseverance. Through the restaurant they have created a place where food tells a story, music brings people together, and community remains at the heart of everything they do.