Daryl Cooper moved to Charlotte from Newport News, Virginia where he started cooking at a young age because his mother didn’t keep “grab and go” snacks at home. While attending high school he obtained several part-time Food Service jobs. After graduating high school, Cooper furthered his studies at Johnson & Wales University and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Food Service Management.

During his 14 years of experience, Daryl took on jobs ranging from casual dining at Chili’s to fine dining at private clubs as a cook and sous chef. While working these jobs, his love for preparing and serving meals grew stronger which led to him launching The Cookin’ Coop Food Truck In 2016. After 4 fun years of “slinging birds” during The Cookin’ Coop Era, Cooper decided to shut down the food truck operation to go into business with his partner Oscar Johnson to start a new era in Jimmy Pearls Virginia Soul Spot. Daryl takes pride in his cooking and wants his food to be able to bring a nostalgic feel, as well as create new memories.