Tucked along a quiet stretch of Highway 371 in the community of Dorsey, the Dixie Country Store has become a destination for travelers looking to slow down for a while. Inside the historic building, shelves are lined with vintage candy, glass-bottled soft drinks, homemade treats and souvenirs that bring back memories for visitors of every age.
Some people stop in while traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway. Others make a special trip from neighboring states after seeing the store online or hearing about it from friends. No matter how they arrive, guests usually leave with a bag of candy, an ice cream cone and a story to tell.
For owner Tim, better known to many visitors as “Uncle Tim,” that’s exactly the point.
“I like to say that we sell memories,” he said.
A Store with Deep Roots
The Dixie Country Store has been part of the Dorsey community since 1939, when Foster and Ozell Smith opened it as Smith’s Grocery. The building served as both a grocery store and a family home, with the Smiths raising their two children in the living quarters behind the store.
Tim and his wife purchased the store in 2016 after careers in technology and healthcare. At first, they only opened on Saturdays while both continued working full time. After Tim retired, the store expanded to Fridays and Saturdays, and once his wife retired, the pair were able to devote even more time to welcoming visitors.
Keeping a historic country store open hasn’t always been easy. Older buildings require constant maintenance, and finding insurance for an eighty-year-old structure presents its own challenges. Still, Tim says preserving places like this is important.
Growing up with his father as an employee for the Dr. Pepper bottling factory gave him an appreciation for old country stores, many of which have disappeared over the years. Saving one of them became a way to preserve a small piece of Mississippi history.
More Than a Candy Store
The first thing many visitors notice is the smell.
Fresh waffle cones are made in-house throughout the day, filling the store with the sweet aroma of warm vanilla. Tim laughs that “smell sells,” and judging by the number of ice cream cones handed across the counter, he’s probably right.
Blue Bell ice cream remains a favorite, but it’s only one part of the experience.
One side of the store is filled with candy and novelty treats popular with today’s kids. The other is devoted to vintage favorites that many adults remember from childhood. Candy cigarettes, bubblegum cigars, Nik-L-Nips, MoonPies, glass-bottled sodas and dozens of varieties of root beer line the shelves. Homemade fried pies, fudge and Tim’s pecan pralines are among the most popular treats, and the fried pies have developed such a following that they often sell out within the first hour of the day.
Visitors will also find little touches of Southern tradition throughout the store, including bottles of Coca-Cola paired with packs of peanuts, a combination that has been enjoyed across the South for generations.
Welcoming Guests Like Family
Although the candy and ice cream draw people through the front door, Tim believes the atmosphere is what brings them back.
“We treat people sincerely like we want to be treated,” he said.
It’s why he prefers the word “guests” over “customers.” Every visitor receives the same warm welcome, whether they’re from down the road or halfway across the country.
That approach has helped turn the Dixie Country Store into one of Itawamba County’s most visited destinations. According to the store’s guest book, visitors have traveled from at least 17 states and three different countries to experience it. About 80 percent of guests come from more than 30 miles away, with many discovering the store while traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway or exploring Northeast Mississippi.
A Place Worth Remembering
Ask Tim what the Dixie Country Store means to him, and his answer has very little to do with candy.
“I love to see people happy,” he said.
He hopes every visitor leaves feeling welcome and carries home a happy memory. Watching children discover old-fashioned treats for the first time and seeing adults reconnect with favorites they haven’t seen in decades reminds him why he and his wife continue opening the doors each week.
Some places are worth visiting because they’re famous. Others are worth visiting because they make you feel at home.
The Dixie Country Store has spent more than 85 years doing exactly that, one scoop of ice cream, one fried pie and one warm welcome at a time.