Roakes Grocery
Salisbury, NC

Roakes Grocery served as the grocery store for many residents of Salisbury, NC during the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s.   Opened by my Grandparents, Charlie and Louise Roakes (Gaga and Gommy) in 1953 near Catawba College, next to the College Inn Building.  Charlie and Louise ran a store that focused on personal attention, customers would call needing a couple of items and My father, Charlie Jr. or one of his siblings would deliver, regardless of the size of the order. 
 
Ironically, a friend of the family, Ralph Ketner, opened the first Food Town, now Food Lion, across the street from Roakes Grocery.  If Roakes Grocery was out of a product, they would run across the street to Food Town and vice versa.  The two stores were both successful with their own way of running business.
 
My Grandparents called it quits in the early 70’s and moved down to the Yadkin River to enjoy retirement.  They passed many years ago, but to this day we often run into former customers.  
 
We wanted to post this on our website and look forward to hearing from anyone that runs across this while surfing the internet.  Please drop me a line and share your memories of Roakes Grocery so we can post for others to enjoy.
 
 
Thanks
 
Charlie T.  (Tripp) Roakes III
Publisher
South Charlotte Sports Report
tripp@southcharlottesportsreport.com