According to the API docs, if you set deferEmptyText: false, it should display the empty text on a grid right away, since that would be the opposite of deferEmptyText: true which delays displaying the empty text until the store's first load. So it does seem that deferEmptyText: false is not actually working. Can someone confirm this for me? I really need the empty text to show even when the grid is first displayed, before it is actually loaded with data. Thanks.