Part 1
Remembering the Old Days of Roswell Plaza
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the Roswell Plaza was a vital part of the Roswell community. It became most known for its greatly needed shopping and restaurants. At the time, “downtown” Roswell was known as the area around Roswell Town Square close to the Roswell Mill while the Canton Street area was mainly residential and called, “Uptown”. Built in 1963, Roswell Plaza was one of the first shopping strips within in the north Atlanta communities. This development helped provide great amenities to a thirsty community seeking resources closer to home.
There was a revolving number of stores like Food Giant, Big Apple, A&P Grocery, Colonial Grocery, Bunny Hutch ceramics, Galaxy Drugs, Sears, Fotomat and many more!
Long-time residents shared:
“Johnson’s General Store had one of the first stand-up Pac Man arcade games in Roswell. We would ride our bikes over there with a dollar’s worth of quarters and get lots (too much!) of entertainment out of it. Probably around 1981-ish(?)” - Matt C.
“I remember going to Food Giant and riding the mechanical horse out front.” - Elaine C.
“We used to go to the Sears store in that shopping center to see Santa every year.” Kathy C.
“Oh go to Sears and see Santa. And getting refrigerator boxes to make clubhouses out of.” - Susan R.
“Galaxy Drugs is where my older sis and I worked. One of my very fav jobs. Assisted Dr. Carswell in Pharmacy, cashiered, stocked. Then Ed Chastain's Barber Shop on far end. My brother worked there. Sears before moving to Roswell Village S/C, Colonial Store on other end...can't believe I'd cross 9 & go buy groceries for Grandmom & Mom. It was busy like it is today!” - Deborah H.
And let’s not forget, the famous beloved Skillet restaurant.
It was the home of Butter Beans restaurant, Country Fare restaurant, and then the famous Southern Skillet, also called Iron Skillet with its second ownership. The Skillet restaurant was the place in Roswell to meet up. It was a place everyone went!
Friends on Facebook shared:
“Iron Skillet was my go-to place for Fried Chicken and it had the most amazing people working there.” - Carl W.
“I ate at the skillet almost every morning. Been going to Roswell Plaza since 1964.” - John B.
“Iron skillet was my first job in high school. Great people and great patrons!” - Beckey J.
“I loved the big table at the Skillet where anyone could sit and join the talk and food!” - Annette L.
“There used to be live music at the Southern Skillet. I loved their chicken salad. My office was across Hwy 9 so I could walk to it.” - Janet R.
Then something changed…the suburban sprawl.
As more and more residents built bigger homes further out, the Roswell Plaza experienced a major change too. Stores like Sears and major groceries left to chase the suburban homeowners while discount stores started to fill the space.
By the late 2000, the face of Roswell Plaza needed revitalization too. The “Uptown” Roswell was transforming into the new “Downtown”. Canton Street became less residential and more commercial. Cute boutique shops and fine cuisine restaurants were occupying the spaces along Canton street. Yet the Roswell Plaza had yet to integrate with the Downtown Roswell growing vibe.