Customers have been lining up for hamburgers since 1962, and this family restaurant has seen several changes throughout the times. One of those being that Highway 49 in Gulfport was only two lanes when owner Joe Rouse’s father, Leslie, built the original structure of Rebel Dip.

     Growing up, the Rouse family did not have much. Rouse would milk cows and, at one time, only had one pair of shoes. During this time in history, war was prevalent. His father fought in World War I and three of his brothers fought in World War II. One of those brothers never returned home and died on the Rhine River in Germany just 15 days before the war was over. Fannie Rouse, Joe’s mother, did not want to lose another son overseas and begged for Joe to stay in college. Rouse graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a license to teach secondary education and was drafted into the Korean war shortly thereafter.

     Some people did not make it back home, but Rouse returned and has not left Mississippi ever since. Rouse began his teaching career at Harrison Central Highschool also coaching football and basketball. “I was teaching a class, and I gave a test. And with the last question, I asked them what they would like for the name of the restaurant to be, so the students selected the name Rebel Dip, and it was named after the school’s mascot.” The high school provided several of his first customers. And when asked what has stood out to him as the most special part about owning a restaurant, Rouse explained he has enjoyed meeting so many different people since opening decades ago. It’s also still a family business with his two daughters, Kathy Wilson and Pamela Saucier, as part of the crew.

     In 1980, Rouse was elected for state representative and served for four years. He also served on the board of directors for the Mississippi Coast Restaurant and Beverage Association for 10 years. In 1986, he was recognized for “Outstanding Contributions as an Executive Officer” for the association. Over the years, the family restaurant has been known for delicious hamburgers and handspun milk shakes (malt style for those who like to taste the chocolate fudge). The original building was expanded with a larger building in the late 1980’s. And after Hurricane Katrina, it survived with minimal damage. Hurricane Katrina lasted from August 23, 2005, through August 31, 2005. As soon as the storm left Mississippi, the Rouse family was ready to serve hungry customers and support the community. The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8:45 p.m., at 12399 Highway 49, in Gulfport, Miss.
     Joe Rouse has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award Chefs of the Coast by the Gulf Coast Community and the Gulf Coast Chapter of the MHRA. He will be 91 this year, and if you see him around, he would love to share stories about his family history. Next time you place an order, take a glance at some of his family photos on display around the ordering windows. Enjoy the outdoor seating, the classic menu, and the views of those driving into the Gulf Coast from the North on Highway 49. Sometimes, a little storytelling makes the food a little more special.

Nikki Jean

Nikki is a Multimedia Journalist for Seaside Shoutouts, which covers exciting stories about small business owners on the MS Gulf Coast. When she is not writing for Seaside Social News she designs websites and spends as much time as possible with her family and her dog.