D’IBERVILLE, Miss. (WLOX) — Doris’ Hot Tamales in D’Iberville is celebrating 50 years on the Coast.
Doris Deno started the business in 1976. Her children, Shanna Burdine and RJ Deno, are carrying on the tradition.
“We have really enjoyed being here, carrying on mom’s tradition that she started in 1976,” Burdine said.
Tamale business began with grandparents
RJ said his grandparents started their tamale business in the 1940s.
“They had the pushcart days back in Biloxi,” RJ said. “So mama learned the recipe, and she started her business in 1976.”
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RJ said his grandfather sold the tamales from a pushcart in Biloxi.
“He’d open up that lid, and you’d smell those tamales from down the road,” RJ said. “People would gather up from his pushcart and they’d line up.”
RJ said the tamales “haven’t changed a bit since my grandfather’s pushcart days.”
Doris rolled tamales for about 32 years
Burdine said her mother rolled tamales for about 32 years before she died.
RJ worked with their mother for many years, Burdine said. After Doris died, he wanted to keep the business going. Burdine said she joined him about 14 years ago.
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“We still have customers tell us today that they remember mom, Miss Doris, and they love her,” Burdine said.
City recognized Doris with her own day
RJ said the city gave Doris her own day, Doris’ Hot Tamales Day, and issued proclamations.
“Something we can hang on our wall and be proud of looking at,” RJ said. “And generations that come, we’ll see it and know their grandma, Doris, and what she did.”
RJ said his mother did not know the business would last 50 years when she started it.
“It’s an incredible honor to be a part of the city of D’Iberville and be able to serve our community and bring that tradition to our community and share it with the customers that we value so much,” RJ said.
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