Mamie's Cafe With Love Becomes Holiday Destination

Mamie’s Café with Love won “Best Aberdeen Christmas Decorations” last year and they hope to do it again this year. 

With the help of her son, "John Boy" owner Brenda Weber turned Mamie’s into a winter wonderland inside and out. 

"I couldn't wait to decorate this year," Weber said.

And that she did, complete with an early 1900s sled with Santa sitting inside.

"I went to the auction to buy this sled, that's what I wanted this year. There were two or three other people bidding on it and I thought I was never going to get it!" Weber said.

"At one point, I turned around to them and said, 'what are you doing? I want that sled.'" Weber said jokingly.

Mamie’s, which is named after Weber’s grandmother, has come a long way since it first opened its doors in Aberdeen five-years-ago.  

The restaurant, which was started from happy childhood memories, adorns Weber’s family photos on all walls. 

“Our first Thanksgiving we had no customers, it was my boys, Mrs. Mardge, Chris, my parents and a couple soliders that wandered in. We played cards and danced to the oldies,” Weber said. 

“But now, we don’t dance and play cards anymore, we work.” 

With it's famous free dessert, Mamie's is known for giving out gifts throughout the year and not just during the holidays.  

Weber isn’t exactly sure why she started including free dessert with each meal. 

“I know some people don’t get it, but I feel if you give a little bit you’d be surprised what you get back in the long run,” Weber said.  

“We have a lot of customers that have gone through Chemo and since I’ve been up here, I lost my best friend Mrs. Mardge, who was with me for over 20 years, to cancer. There’s some days that [dessert] was all she could eat and I would make sure that it got all the way down to Hampden.” Weber continued. 

When asked what the restaurant’s most requested dish was, Weber couldn’t just pick one.

All of Mamie's recipes have been passed down from her grandmother or have been in the family for years.   

“Home made pot roast or our seafood, which is brought in fresh daily. Also, a lot of people love our salmon. Our country style ribs are also popular. Whatever you can think of at your grandmothers is what we will have here,” Weber said.  

If family is too far away this holiday season, Mamie's delicious home-cooked meals and winter wonderland scene will make you feel right at home and part of her family.

“Mamie’s customers have been so good to me and area businesses. I can’t express the appreciation I have towards Hampden and Aberdeen especially this Christmas season," Weber said.