Ferriday — The high heels and business suits in Donita Lowery’s closet have been shoved to the back.

After 16 years in the banking world, Lowery’s new job requires a more casual wardrobe — comfortable shoes and light-weight clothes.

Lowery, along with her husband Doug, are the new owners of the Dairy Bar on E.E. Wallace Boulevard in Ferriday.

After being closed for three years, the Lowerys reopened the Ferriday landmark, originally opened in the 1950s, on July 27. It is the couple’s first venture in the restaurant business.

The Dairy Bar is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is located at 301 E.E. Wallace Blvd. Call in orders can be placed by calling 318-757-2900.

Doug, a food supply sales representative in the Ferriday area, told Donita the business was for sale, but it took a couple of years before the couple actually purchased the property.

“We were driving by one day and I said to Doug ‘Why don’t we look at buying that place,’” she said.

Lowery, had left her job at Britton & Koontz Bank in Vicksburg and was looking for something more local.

“The commute, I just wanted to get rid of the commute,” she said.

Now, her commute is much shorter, from Natchez to Ferriday, and the work, she said, is much more fun.

“I like the people and interacting with the people that come through here,” she said. “Since we have been open, I’ve already started having my regulars.”

Lowery said one man stuck out in particular.

“On the first day we were open, he came through four times and got a large cup of ice cream (each time),” she said. “Now he comes every day.

“He sure likes his ice cream.”

The Dairy Bar serves ice cream desserts like fudge brownie boats, malts, milkshakes and ice cream sundaes in addition to cups and cones of soft-serve vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

The menu also includes meal choices like fried catfish, chicken tenders, hamburgers, poboys, salads and the Dairy Bar’s original recipe chili dogs.

“People are always asking if we have the original chili dog recipe,” Donita said. “Once they find that out, you can’t imagine how fast the chili dogs have been selling.”

It took the Lowerys approximately a month to get the business ready to open its doors, but even before the first chili dog was sold, Ferridians were ready.

“When we were looking at the building, one car stopped and wanted to order some food,” she said. “We hadn’t even bought it yet, and they were already ready.”

And the enthusiasm hasn’t stopped yet. Donita usually handles the day shift with her cook and Doug comes in after his day job to assist with the night shift.

“(The previous owners) said they handled it with him in the back cooking and her in the front so we thought we were ready for the business, but we’ve been a bit overwhelmed by the response,” Lowery said. “Especially during the lunch rush, but it’s a good feeling.”

Since all the menu items are made fresh when the order is placed, Lowery said it is best for customers to call orders in.

“We want it to be fresh and hot when we serve it, so if you can’t call it in, be ready to wait for a few minutes,” Lowery said.

But, Lowery said everyone so far hasn’t minded the wait.

“It’s been non-stop,” she said. “I’m actually surprised at how well it has taken off. It has just been word of mouth. We’ve already handed out over 1,000 menus.”

For some the Dairy Bar experience is a new one, but for many of Lowery’s customers eating a chili dog at the Dairy Bar brings back memories.

“We’ve heard lots of stories about how people remember coming here as a teenager and eating here,” she said. “People have a lot of fond memories of this place.”

And, Lowery said, she hopes customers create a lot more memories now.