Makeda’s to re-open shop 10 months after Young Dolph’s death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies is set to re-open its shop on Airways Boulevard 10 months after Young Dolph was shot and killed outside the store.

Young Dolph was killed at the age of 36 in November 2021 while he was visiting the cookie shop.

“We haven’t sold a cookie here since that day,” said owner Pamela Hill. “I guess you could say Young Dolph was the last one that was here to purchase cookies from the last day that we were here.”

The Airways location has been closed ever since.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Hill said. “It was kind of hard for us to come back because of the tragedy, because of the loss of life of Young Dolph and it was hard for us to come back but you know, this has been our location, this is kind of like home for us.”

Pamela Hill now says they plan to re-open the store Saturday, Sept. 17, after renovating the store. She says there will be a tribute to Dolph at the location.

She originally announced the flagship location would remain closed.

“We cannot let that be the end of the story,” said co-owner Maurice Hill. “We have to continue on, to honor him and let the world know about Makeda’s because he loved coming here. Every customer that walks through that door gets treated like a superstar. That’s the special part of Makeda’s because we are nobody without the customers.”

Makeda’s first opened its doors in 1999. Pamela and Maurice Hill own and operate the shop known for its butter cookies, a recipe handed down from Maurice’s grandmother.

After the shooting, the couple was able to continue baking in their downtown shop at 301 Jefferson Avenue, which they opened in 2021. An online movement helped them stay afloat after their main location became a crime scene and eventually a memorial.

With the ovens hot and racks full of cookies, the Hills will reopen their original location on Airways Boulevard Saturday all while paying tribute to Young Dolph in the newly renovated store

Makeda’s will celebrate their 23rd anniversary in the upcoming weekend as well.

They’ll reopen the Airways location Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.

Copyright 2022 WMC. All rights reserved.