Shoppers come out for opening of Roses

Although store managers had sought a “silent opening” last Friday, Roses of Kinston has been anything but silent since it opened as shoppers flocked to the latest incarnation of a fondly-remembered local retail outlet.

“It has far exceeded our expectations for our silent opening, in front of our grand opening April 1,” store manager Dale Hicks said Monday as couples and mothers with their children in tow browsed through the aisles, picking out clothes, food and other assorted household goods sold at discounted prices.

“Everybody seems very excited to have (Roses) back in town,” he added.

The first Roses — part of a chain of discount stores across the state — was a staple of the Vernon Park Mall from 1969 until it closed during 2002.

It was only a fond memory for Kinston shoppers until earlier this year, when officials of the chain’s parent company, Henderson-based Variety Stores Inc., announced that it would reopen on North Herritage Street in the building that previously housed a Winn-Dixie supermarket.

About 40 people are employed there, including managers, sales associates and cashiers.

“Just about every third or fourth customer has a story about the old Roses in town, and how happy they were that we were back,” Hicks said. “And, of course, we’re very happy to be back as well.”

Edna Mills of Kinston, a loyal Roses patron, often traveled out of town to the chain’s other stores, and was ecstatic when she found out about its return to Kinston.

“I love it,” she said Monday. “I was here the day it opened, I was here yesterday and I’m here today.”

Mills, as with many other Roses customers, remained loyal because of the store’s prices, which she said are lower than those of any competing retail outlet.

One-year-old Carson Edwards of Beulaville happily rode through the store Monday in a shopping cart with his grandmother Vickie Edwards and mother Gina Whaley in tow.

Vickie Edwards, also drawn by the low prices, said she normally shops at the Roses in Jacksonville, but spotted Kinston’s while on the way to a doctor’s appointment in town.

The trio stopped in to pick up clothes for her grandson.

“We can get his clothes cheaper, and he outgrows them so fast,” Edwards said.

Daniel Holmes of Kinston had also made several trips since Roses opened Friday. He was in the aisles Monday with a metal wall sconce for his wife and two cans of ravioli.

He said he and his wife shopped at the Roses of Mt. Olive since the first Kinston outlet closed.

“It’s everything you need in one place, can’t beat it,” he said. “I’m glad they came back to Kinston. I think it’s going to be a great store to shop in.”

David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.