NATCHEZ, Miss. — After more than four decades as fixtures of downtown Natchez commerce, Darby and Dennis Short have sold Darby’s gift and fudge shop, Darby’s Furniture and Interiors and the buildings housing the businesses to a new owner.
The sale to interior designer and home-furnishings retailer Nate Newman was announced Thursday, according to information first reported by The Natchez Democrat.
The Shorts, both 68, said the decision brings their 44 years as owners to a close but will not end their involvement with the businesses they built.
“We have chosen a successor to carry our beloved Darby’s stores into the future,” the Shorts told The Natchez Democrat.
Newman is an ASID interior designer who grew up in the furniture and home-goods industry and has spent his career owning and operating retail stores. He has also worked with retailers on store performance, buying and merchandising.
The Shorts said finding someone capable of maintaining what Darby’s has become was an important part of their decision to sell.
“This was not simply a business decision — it was a decision about legacy,” the Shorts told The Natchez Democrat. “We wanted someone who understands what Darby’s means to our customers, our employees and downtown Natchez. We believe Nate is the right person to honor what has been built while lovingly guiding Darby’s into its next generation.”
Newman said he intends to preserve the character of the businesses while using his retail experience to strengthen them for the future.
“I am deeply honored that Darby and Dennis have entrusted me with something they have spent 44 years building,” Newman told The Natchez Democrat. “My responsibility is not to change what people love about Darby’s. It is to preserve it, strengthen it and prepare it to serve many more generations.”
Customers can expect the stores to retain their familiar service, merchandise and atmosphere, including Darby’s Famous Fudge, while Newman plans to introduce new merchandise and other reasons for customers to return.
The change in ownership also does not mean the Shorts are disappearing from the stores or downtown Natchez.
Darby Short plans to continue her design work while assisting customers and spending time at the gift store. Dennis Short will continue making Darby’s Famous Fudge and remaining involved in downtown commerce. The couple will also work with Newman during the ownership transition.
“After 44 years of proudly serving our community, the time has come for Dennis and I to begin a new chapter in life,” Darby Short told The Natchez Democrat. “At 68 years old, we have decided that it is time to slow down, enjoy life, and spend more time with our families and loved ones.”
Short thanked the community for supporting the businesses over more than four decades, saying what began as a business grew into something much larger because of the relationships the couple developed with customers and residents.
“We have been truly blessed to do something we have loved for so many years, and we will always cherish the relationships and memories made along the way,” Short told The Natchez Democrat.
She emphasized that the couple is not retiring completely from Darby’s.
“We are not saying goodbye,” Short told The Natchez Democrat. “Dennis and I will be working for the new owner, Nate Newman. Dennis and I will still be involved with both the gift store and the furniture stores.”
Darby’s has grown substantially since its beginnings in 1982. What started as a small downtown business eventually expanded across multiple buildings and became a destination for gifts, home décor, furniture and its well-known fudge.
Downtown Natchez Alliance Executive Director Chesney Doyle told The Natchez Democrat she has known Darby Short since 1983 and watched the couple build their businesses over more than four decades.
“They worked incredibly hard — seven days a week, year after year,” Doyle told The Natchez Democrat. “There were times during recessions when Darby’s was Main Street. With ‘Everything Under the Sun,’ they helped put Natchez on the map and, just as importantly, helped keep us there.”
Doyle said the Shorts grew from one small shop to four buildings spanning two blocks and continued investing in downtown Natchez even late in their tenure as owners.
That included purchasing the former Kimbrell’s building and opening a 15,000-square-foot furniture store, which Doyle described as another regional shopping destination.
“What a legacy — and what a great next chapter for Darby’s to continue in the hands of an experienced retailer who understands what Dennis and Darby built and sees the opportunity ahead,” Doyle told The Natchez Democrat.
Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson also praised the Shorts for their contributions to the city and downtown business community.
“Words are inadequate to describe the immense debt of gratitude we as a city owe to Darby and Dennis Short,” Gibson told The Natchez Democrat.
Gibson described the couple as a cornerstone of downtown Natchez for nearly half a century whose businesses have served both residents and visitors.
“From their famous fudge to their incredible line of gift items, furniture and home decor, they have been a blessing to thousands of customers, both locals and tourists, and others far and wide,” Gibson told The Natchez Democrat.
Gibson said the purchase represents another investment in downtown Natchez while marking the end of an era for the Shorts as business owners.
“I can hardly imagine Natchez without them and their incredible team,” Gibson told The Natchez Democrat. “Of course I am excited that other parties have now stepped in to further invest in Natchez. Their financial commitment to our city is proof the Natchez Renewal continues rolling forward.”
Although ownership has changed, the Shorts said many of the things customers associate with Darby’s will remain unchanged — including its name, employees and traditions.
“The name will remain. The familiar faces will still be here. The traditions customers cherish will continue,” the Shorts told The Natchez Democrat.
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