ROSEBORO — Almost all residents in this western Sampson County town can remember the days when an ice cream cone was a short walk away to Tart and West Pharmacy, and everyone could count on going to the downtown area for some light shopping.

However, in the last few years, darkness has fallen onto the downtown sidewalks. Empty businesses and Empty parking spots had become the norm.

But for the last year, community leaders have made it their goal to bring business — and people — back to the area.

Roseboro resident Debra Spell has noticed more people frequenting the area since a new business, the Cakery, set up shop in the downtown.

“I have noticed that business has picked up here,” said Spell. And she credits the owner of the Cakery, Rusty Jackson, for being brave enough to give Roseboro’s downtown a chance to prove its vitality.

“It definitely gives us something that we can look forward to,” Spell remarked. In fact, she said she has heard from people as far away as Elizabethtown who are starting to realize the potential for Roseboro’s business district.

Since she works in the area, Spell said she has noticed that more people are going out to eat along the downtown corridor rather than heading out to N.C. 24 for a bite to eat or bringing something in from home.

There are, she said, benefits to setting up business here rather than in other municipalities.

“We really look out for one another,” said Spell.

Judy Stone, a new Roseboro resident and main street developer, stated that she is quite pleased with the revitalization of the area. In fact, she had plans to only stay in the town for a couple of weeks to help her sister Rusty Jackson, set up her new business. However, she found it so rewarding to be in the area that she moved here permanently and has plans to purchase the building next to her sister’s business.

One advantage she has found in the town is the cost of rent.

“Rent is not like what you find in the big city,” said Stone. She also credits the town with being very helpful in making her sister’s dream of opening up her own business a reality.

“The mayor and the girls in the office have been a big help,” Stone remarked.

Now, her sister’s business has seen as many as 30 people a day, and she thinks those numbers will continue to rise as her business becomes more established.

In addition to the helpfulness of the town, she also credits the residents for being “the nicest people in the United States.”

“That is what made me decide to stay,” said Stone.

Stone also feels that with the town’s work with the Main Street program, lots of good things can happen for the area.

“There is a lot that the Main Street program can do to help someone get into business,” Stone established.

And, she is looking forward to more businesses making their way into the downtown to make Roseboro a viable spot for visitors to make day trips.

“That is the thing that you want to capitalize on,” remarked Stone.

And, she hopes that in the near future, more and more people will begin to see what the downtown area has to offer and gets a glimpse of nostalgia that keeps them coming back for more.

Katie Holland can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 136, or by e-mail at silife@myclintonnc.com.