I am hoping to find a movie title in which an old lady has worked hard her life running a small store or restaurant, and rather than sell it, she advertises it as an enter an essay to win. She then reads the letters and picks a girl with a little child to give her business to. I think to enter, they have to pay a small fee and tell her why she should give the business to them.

I think the movie you are looking for is called "The Spitfire Grill."