Photography by Brandi Stage Portraiture | Makeup & hair by Bria Fowler of Elle Louise, LLC.
What began as a retirement dream has become the business Delorise Nettles always imagined: a welcoming place where there are no strangers.
Nineteen years after Nettles founded Delo’s Heavenly House of Coffee LLC in Gautier, her venture is thriving and expanding. The original shop’s success led to a second location opening in Pascagoula, and plans are underway for a third location on Pascagoula’s Delmas Avenue.
“I have always had passion for people, coffee and conversation, so this coffee shop was the perfect retirement plan for me. It was always a dream of mine while working in the banking industry.”
“I have always had passion for people, coffee and conversation, so this coffee shop was the perfect retirement plan for me,” Nettles says. “It was always a dream of mine while working in the banking industry.”
Delo’s has weathered many storms since its founding, both literal and figurative, but remains a favorite of coffee lovers across the Coast and beyond for its warm atmosphere and unique drink menu. The company’s longevity, Nettles says, is a testament to its quality and the support it has received.
“Continuing to stay in business for nearly two decades is the biggest milestone I can think of,” she adds.
A PLACE TO SIT, CHAT AND SIP
Affectionally known as “Delo,” Nettles grew up in the Wells Community of Jackson County. The second of nine children, she left home to attend Mississippi State University as a fashion design major but came home to the Coast in 1982 and had three children: Gwen Parker, Tieara McPherson and Caleb McPherson.
“I raised my family in Gautier and loved the area,” Nettles says, “but it was always missing a coffee shop where I could meet with my friends to sit, chat and sip.”
Destined and determined to fill that void, she worked in retail for eight years, cultivating a wealth of customer-service skills. In 1990, Nettles went on to Ingalls Federal Credit Union.
“There, I gained a financial background that enhanced my knowledge in working toward my retirement dream of owning a coffee shop,” she says.
That entrepreneurship fantasy became a reality in July of 2005, and nature soon would hand Delo’s its first major obstacle — one of many the business would surmount on its path to becoming a community staple.
“I overcame an opening (that was) right before Katrina, maintained my business through COVID-19 and now am blessed to be expanding into new ventures,” Nettles says. “The fact that I have the most loyal customers on the Coast that keep me in business is the best compliment an entrepreneur can get.”
‘A CUP AND A HUG’
To earn that loyalty, Delo’s opens at 4:30 a.m. to cater to the shipyard crowd from Ingalls. Throughout the day, the shop’s main customers are students and employees of Gautier Schools and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, who pop in for a quick bite or a delicious specialty drink like the Alice — named after Nettles’s big sister.
With her business’s calling card of “a cup and a hug,” Nettles enjoys being a blessing to anyone in need.
“I love to get to know my customers personally and to help connect people with each other,” Nettles says.
Rising prices and inventory shortages test Delo’s as much as any small business, but Nettles takes pains to not pass on these inconveniences to her customers. While she’s a sole proprietor, she employs local high school and college students who embrace the Delo’s culture and maintain its values.
“I also support other entrepreneurs by creating a business incubator,” Nettles says. “They sell products from my store, so we are able to help each other.”
Taking that idea of mutual benefit even further, Nettles is developing a multi-use complex in Pascagoula that will house a third Delo’s coffee shop, a barber shop, a cigar bar and luxury apartments.
“Starting a venture this size is new to me,” she admits, “but I know it will open up other business avenues and relationships.”
HARD TIMES NEVER LAST
Like other entrepreneurs, Nettles plays many roles outside of Delo’s: wife, mother, daughter, sister and involved member of her community. While it’s easy to put others’ needs ahead of our own, she reminds her fellow female bosses that their needs, wants and dreams matter too — “and it’s ok to put ourselves first sometimes.”
Nettles also leans heavily on her faith while juggling her many responsibilities. One particular passage from scripture holds special meaning for the busy business owner: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
“Stay the course and be true to yourself and your passion; know that hard times never last …,” she advises. “Know that your strength comes from the Lord, and that strength can carry you through anything.”
DELORISE NETTLES AWARDS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Board member of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce
- Graduate and alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10k Small Business.
- 2016 recipient of the Jolly P. McCarty Award of Excellence
- 2020 recipient of the Larry Moran Award of Excellence
- Member of the MGCCC Alumni Hall of Fame for 2022
- 2022 recipient of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Anchor Award