Uptown Grocery has opened on Canal Street, the result of a chance meeting and shared dream of two friends who wanted to return to their hometown.

Counters gleaming and shelves packed with gourmet and specialty foods, the grocery offers fresh meats, breads and pastries, ready-to-bake casseroles and a long list of other goods: olive oils, pasta, crackers, cookies, sauces, spices, rice, beans, soups and salads.

&uot;And we serve the best muffalettas every day,&uot; said Jim Anderson, co-owner of the grocery and of a separate business, Natchez Premium Foods, with Larry Brown.

The two men, friends since grade school, saw each other during a visit to Natchez &045;&045; Anderson coming from Jackson, where he lived with wife, Stephanie, and three children; and Brown from Atlanta, where he lived with his wife, Sasha.

&uot;I had sold my business in Atlanta and ran into Jim,&uot; Brown said. &uot;We started talking and both agreed we wanted to have a business in Natchez.&uot;

With Anderson’s background in the food industry as a long-time

renowned cook and caterer and an executive with the large food company Sysco, turning in that direction made sense.

And with Brown’s business experience of transforming a small landscape business in Atlanta into a huge company that investors eagerly sought to buy, the two men believed they had a winning combination.

The grocery store is the visible side of the business, filling the front portion of the building at 531 S. Canal. The partners also have established Natchez Premium Foods, a brokerage that has exclusive distribution for high-end food products in South Mississippi, South Louisiana and a portion of Texas.

&uot;Right now we have four product lines and are working on a fifth,&uot; Brown said. As an example, one line of products is from Country Pleasing Meats of Pelahatchie, known for a sausage that is whole hog with a pleasing smoked flavor and texture. Another is Al Fresco Pasta of Nashville.

&uot;We’re not interested in buying a lot of new products to market,&uot; Brown said. &uot;We want to find products with exceptional quality and take them into areas where they are not marketed.&uot;

The partners see the grocery and their food marketing business as evolving day by day. New products continue to arrive at the grocery. And by late August, when the store will celebrate it grand opening, they expect all items to be on hand.

Still, the food business changes constantly, Brown said. And that is a good thing for him. &uot;There is so much to learn, and it changes daily,&uot; he said. &uot;And I love to develop new and different things. It’s been a huge success so far.&uot;

Anderson, with his love for cooking and catering, expects that aspect of the business to grow, as well. Catering includes a take-out and delivery catering; a set menu available for business lunches; and a full-blown catering service for parties and groups.

In addition, Anderson will take a staff into a home to prepare and serve the meal. &uot;He’s as good as any executive chef you know,&uot; Brown said of his partner. &uot;He has cooked all over the country, including at the James Beard house in New York.&uot;

In time, gift baskets will be available at Uptown Grocery, probably in at least three sizes and each customized for the occasion.

Meantime, both local customers and visitors to Natchez have given the grocery owners a good feeling about their venture.

&uot;There’s not anything like this downtown. And we’re close enough here on Canal Street to be considered downtown,&uot; Anderson said.

Brown said small specialty groceries are doing well all over the country. Why not in Natchez?

&uot;It’s great to come back here and be confident we’ve come up with something the community needs,&uot; Brown said.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. After the grand opening, the store will be open on Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The telephone number is 601 445-9111.