Mama Dips Kitchen Closing Down Rosemary Street Restaurant 

Reporter: Steven Schlink and Victoria Osborne  

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.– Chapel Hill’s staple restaurant, Mama Dips Kitchen, is selling their building on Rosemary Street. The iconic restaurant has brought people from all over to Chapel Hill for its southern cooking. 

When the founder, Mildred Cotton Council, known as Mama Dip, died in 2018, her eight children took over the business. One of them is Spring Council. “Growing up we was able to do whatever needed to be done. We can cook, we can bake, wash dishes, you know, floors,” said Council about working in the restaurant growing up. 

Most of the menu is the same as it was when it began, however, the business itself has changed since the early days, especially in 2020. But how much is the property selling for? More than three and a half million dollars. While it was not an easy decision, it was the best for the family, who are all at retirement age. 

But, the family will not be the only ones missing the memories they have created here. Jean Copeland, long-time customer of Mama Dips, has created a lot of memories with her own family here at the property. “I was sad because of the memories we have here. The family has become family with us and we know them all by name,” said Copeland. 

While the era has come to a close, Mama Dips hopes to have a new fast casual restaurant open before they close on the doors of the current location.