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NATCHEZ — Biscuits and Blues, a restaurant that has charmed locals and tourists for nearly 30 years with its famous biscuits and delicious southern cuisine and hospitality, will soon have new owners who are no strangers to the Natchez restaurant scene.

Rick and Ann Simons, owners of Planet Thailand and Slick Rick’s, are new owners of the Main Street restaurant, which will start its transition to their operation in less than two weeks.

Peter Trosclair, who hails from a family of experienced chefs, said he finally decided to let the restaurant go and retire — or semi-retire — after 27 years in the business.

“I think my wife (Lisa) is more excited about it than I am,” Trosclair said jokingly.

Trosclair said the sale of Biscuits and Blues is bittersweet.

“I’m going to miss my customers most of all,” he said. “The regulars who come in every week. I have mixed emotions, but I’m 67 years old and I’ve been here for 27 years. I’m ready to move on. Rick and Ann Simons are younger with more energy and they have a lot of experience in the restaurant business, so I think it’ll be in good hands. Hopefully, they’ll continue the legacy.”

Trosclair said he bought the former Scrooge’s restaurant in May 1998 and opened Biscuits and Blues the following June.

His sister, Regina Trosclair Charboneau, first opened a Biscuits and Blues restaurant in San Francisco and allowed him to use the name and her world-renowned biscuit recipe for the Natchez version. The original Biscuits and Blues in San Francisco is still open and celebrates 30 years next week, Trosclair said. Their father, the late J.P. Trosclair, was the first restaurateur of the family and the siblings learned from him and followed in his footsteps.

Trosclair said Valentine’s Day weekend will be his last running the business before the new owners take over.

His immediate plans are to fish more and enjoy a time of relaxation. After all, he has spent the last 27 years of his life getting to the restaurant at 5:30 a.m. every morning preparing for the day before closing late at night, he said. A lot of local musicians got their start in the entertainment business by setting the atmosphere at Biscuits and Blues before moving on to greater things.  Many still perform there regularly, he said, adding he hopes they’ll continue.

“I may be doing catering and stuff and stay on a little while longer to help get it going for the new owners,” he said. “I may get a part-time job doing something. … I’ve met people from all over the world at that restaurant, hosted a lot of parties, and met a lot of customers I now call close friends. I’ll really miss my regular people, and hopefully, they’ll support the new ownership.”