Velvet Cream

As the oldest, continuously-run restaurant in Desoto County, Velvet Cream opened for business on July 23, 1947 at its current location. Mr. Lee Lauderdale opened the business in his side yard that had formerly been a cotton field. Walk-up, fast-food joints were a fad post World War II, and Velvet Cream would have been one such store. When it opened... on its corner lot, US Highway 51 was only a gravel road through the sparsely-occupied town. The small, 400 square-foot t building hired local school-aged children in addition to his own family. In addition to being a Hamburger Stand, Velvet Cream sold Vanilla Ice Cream and Bottled Root Beer and Cokes. In 1962, Tom B. Flinn, Sr. bought the Velvet Cream lot and began to expand its offerings. A new Ice Cream Machine was purchased that was capable of offering Vanilla, Chocolate, and Mixed. For its day, three options for ice cream flavors was a luxury! Three Flavors of Sundaes were offered Chocolate, Strawberry, and Pineapple while Milkshakes came in four Flavors Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Pineapple. In addition to these, Onion Rings were added to the menu as their popularity surged in the late 60s. A Drive Thru was added in November of 1977. At the time, a Drive Thru was an unheard of concept in the mid-south. While the invention of the Drive Thru is credited two years earlier in 1975, Velvet Cream had one in the Mid-South Area six months before the larger, chain fast food restaurants experimented with their own versions. When the Drive Thru first opened, employees frequently had to go outside and explain how to place an order. The patrons of the day were used to Drive-up service, but Drive-Thru service was new altogether. To handle the increased traffic, the Building was enlarged to 700 square feet with a Drive-Thru wing and a back room for storage. Since its beginning, Velvet Cream was a local hangout for the citys youth. Whether they were hungry for food or socializing, Velvet Cream was the place to be. Frequently, the parking lot would be covered by cars ...Read More