Velvet Cream – The Dip marks 71 years: 'I don't sell food, I sell smiles'

Raven Copeland | Memphis Commercial Appeal

The aroma of food lingers while hamburger patties sizzle on the grill, employees prepare treats and customers peruse the lengthy menu.

It's a typical day at Velvet Cream – The Dip, a popular longtime fast-food and ice cream spot for Mid-South residents.

Velvet Cream opened on July 23, 1947. Lee Lauderdale opened the business on his side yard, offering hamburgers, vanilla ice cream and bottled sodas.

In 1962, Tom B. Flinn Sr. bought the Velvet Cream lot and expanded its offerings. Onion rings, three ice cream flavors and sundae options and four milkshake flavors were added to the menu.

"My dad needed about $7,000 for the lot, so he went to Hernando Bank and they wouldn't give him a loan, so he went to see Mr. Crowe at the Senatobia Bank and he turned him down," said Tommy Flinn, Velvet Cream's owner. "So my dad was getting kind of desperate, so he went to the Senatobia Bank again and told Mr. Crowe's secretary, 'Tell Mr. Crowe I'm going to take him up on his offer, I'll take the loan,' and Mr. Crowe signed him up."

Years passed and Tommy Flinn's father was ready to pass the torch.

"It was around 1970 when my dad told me, 'If you want to try this, go for it,'" Flinn said. "I was 18 at the time and enrolled in Ole Miss and I was thinking about being a teacher, and he let me have it. I was the oldest and my brother, sister and cousins also helped me with it."

Velvet Cream celebrates 71st anniversary Velvet Cream celebrates 71st anniversary

The establishment underwent other changes, including a drive-thru, food additions and the adoption of Velvet Cream's nickname.

During the 1940s-'60s, Hernando High School students nicknamed their favorite hangout spots. Velvet Cream was nicknamed "The Dip."

Velvet Cream officially adopted its nickname in 2009, by placing a "Dip" street sign on the drive-thru's building. Today, "The Dip" is on the establishment's brick wall.

The restaurant continued to make improvements and create new food items and ice cream treats.

"We have about 250 flavors that we offer and all of them were created by putting things together, which is what we're good at," Flinn said. "We also do it with our sandwiches."

Among the items offered are bacon milkshakes, concretes, blended ice cream treats, Pineapples in Paradise (filled with pineapple pieces and ice cream), and unicorn and blueberry cheesecake ice cream. Velvet Cream's next debut will be dessert indulgences — expect an overload of sweetness.

Velvet Cream's employees enjoy the restaurant's various items and customers.

"I've been working here about three years and my favorite is the King Kong, which is banana and Oreo, but I like to add chocolate," Katie Headley said. "I enjoy working here because it's a pretty simple job, and you get to see a lot of people and a lot of repeat customers come by and I really love them."

Frequent customer Lillie Washington also has favorites.

"I've been going here for about seven years, and I enjoy all of Velvet Cream's cold foods, like the ice cream and the slushes," Washington said.

In addition to appeasing customers' appetites, Flinn also shows Southern hospitality.

"Over the years, if I know somebody is sick or in the hospital or something, I ask their relatives about that person's favorite flavor, and I send them ice cream," Flinn said.

Marking 71 years is very meaningful to Flinn.

"I'm glad that I'm still here. There were several times I wanted to quit, but I kept going and I figured out a way to make things work and we were outlandish, which also kept me going," he said. "My premise is this, 'I don't sell food, I sell smiles,' and if someone is smiling when they leave, then that means I did a good job."

Velvet Cream

Address: 2290 U.S. 51 South, Hernando

Hours: 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday; 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Phone: (662) 429-6540