NATCHEZ — One Natchez business will be closing its doors soon, but another one is ready to move in and open up.

Rex TV Appliances is in the process of liquidating its merchandise in preparation for the store closing, but Appliance Direct will be moving into the location shortly after Rex shuts its doors for the last time.

“Basically Rex is getting out of the retail business all together,” said Bill Branum, regional vice president with Rex. “The corporate focus is shifting to alternative fuels. We’ve had interest in that area for several years.”

Branum said management at Rex made the decision to completely shift the focus of the company recently, and after the decision was made, the process of closing stores has gone quickly.

Rex has had interest in the alternative fuel business since the mid-1990s.

But before the stores were closed, Rex was able to locate a company that was interested in taking over the Rex locations.

Appliance Direct, an appliance retailer from Florida has taken over ownership of the 37 stores that were owned by Rex and are looking to negotiate lease agreements with over 40 stores that Rex leased.

The store in Natchez is owned by Rex.

“It is not just a change of name, it is a completely different company,” Branum said.

In order to prepare for closing, Branum said Rex will have to sale off all the merchandise in the current location since Appliance Direct will bring in merchandise of its own.

“Everything in the store is going to leave,” he said. “We are going to give them a completely empty building.”

The process of emptying the building isn’t lengthy, Branum said, and he expects the store to be closed by the middle of next week.

“Typically we’ve never gone beyond eight or 10 days,” Branum said.

But while the name and merchandise will be changing, Branum said it was his understanding that current Rex employees will return to the location once Appliance Direct opens up.

“They have all been told they will have comparable positions with Appliance Direct,” Branum said. “It should be the same crew, but they will just be out of work for a couple of weeks while (Appliance Direct) will be doing their remodeling.”

Branum said all warranties purchased through Rex on appliances should be honored after the store is taken over by Appliance Direct. He said customers should call 1-800-528-9739 instead of any numbers that are currently used.