Makeda’s Butter Cookies celebrates 25th anniversary

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis cookie store is commemorating a major milestone on Saturday.

Makeda's Butter Cookies celebrated 25 years in business this weekend.

Morris Hill, one of the founders of Makeda's Butter Cookies, told WREG that the store is named after his young daughter who tragically passed away due to an illness.

"That picture is actually a picture where she had a graduation cap on," Hill said. "My brother had it re-painted. So now she's wearing a chef hat."

Makeda was just six years old when she passed away from leukemia in 1997.

In 1999, her family decided to make the cookie store and named it after her.

"Some people come and ask, 'Is Makeda here," Hill said. "(We say) no. Makeda passed away. She would've been 34 for this year on October 11. That's when we have Makeda day where all the butter cookies are one dollar."

Makeda's marks 'Dolph Day' Friday, two years after rapper's death

In November of 2021, Memphis rapper Young Dolph was fatally shot at their Airways Boulevard location.

Operations Manager Raven Winton remembers him as a regular customer and said Monday's upcoming trial for those charged in his death will bring back memories.

"It's kind of making 100 percent that he's gone," Winton said. "All we want is justice. We pray that his family gets it."

An out-of-town jury has been seated as Hernandez Govan, Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith prepare to face a judge.

A fourth man, Jemarcus Johnson, already pled guilty last year to three counts of being an accessory after the fact.

As for Makeda's Butter Cookies, they will be branching out and opening a store in Atlanta next March.