After 56 years in furniture, appliance and hardware sales, Jerry Yates is expanding his business.

Utica-based Jerry’s Appliance Center is in the process of permanently making a home in Vicksburg after delivering to the area for years. In addition to its current location, the business is expanding into the former Mid South Powersports building on U.S. 27 as Jerry’s Furniture and Mattresses Center.

“We’re loading stuff into the new building as we speak,” Yates said. “Vicksburg is going to be great for us because we have so much business here anyway. Nothing about Vicksburg is going to be new. It’s just going to give us a bigger market.”

He said he has been eyeing the location near Hinds Community College and Warren Central High School for about five years.

“I jumped on it in a hurry (when it was for sale this time),” he said. “The show room is 9,000 square feet with beautiful floors, beautiful ceilings.”

The store will employ eight regular employees, he said.

“From there, we’ll see how many we need,” he added. “That’s about like the crew I have here (in Utica) now.”

Though the hardware aspect of his current business isn’t transferring to Vicksburg, the store will feature “middle of the line and up” furniture and a variety of mattresses for twin-, full-, queen- and king-sized beds with set up and delivery available, he said.

“We’re going to have a lot of leather, a lot of recliners, chairs and ottomans,” he said. “We’ve picked everyone’s brains. If you name it, we’ll have it.”

Yates said he views the expansion as a way to further provide for his family.

“I’m building a future for my children and grandchildren,” he said. “We’re going after Vicksburg like white on rice.”

The target opening date for Jerry’s Fine Furniture and Mattresses is Nov. 1, he said, noting they will be receiving furniture deliveries, assembling show areas and getting the store ready for customers in the meantime.

“It’s going to take a while to put all the stuff together and make it look right,” he said. “When you open the door, you’re going to say, ‘Oh, that looks good.”