Roach Feed & Seed, one of Garland’s most beloved and popular stores, hosted its 85th anniversary celebration and officially announced a change in ownership Saturday, July 21.
Online reviews of the store call it a “Garland institution,” the “heartbeat of Garland” and “the best store ever” One reviewer even said that he drives past three other feed stores to get to Roach’s. The reviews refer to the staff as knowledgeable, friendly, helpful.
Original owner Haskell Roach opened the store in 1933. Jack McDaniel went to work there in 1949 and later became the second owner. Shanna Carter worked after school and on weekends beginning in 1990 and is now the third owner of the store.
McDaniel said that Carter was 16 when she began working at Roach’s after school and on Saturdays.
“Then she went to college and when she got out of college I told her that she really ought to come back,” he said. “She did, and now she owns the store.”
McDaniel wanted to sell to someone who would carry on the tradition and said that even though he didn’t want a lot of change, you have to be able to change with the times.
“The store was 16-years-old when I started here,” he said. “Shortly after that, I bought my father’s part of the Roach and McDaniel Grain Company. That put me in partnership with Mr. Roach. So, for several years I ran the grain company. We bought corn from farmers and shelle
d the corn and shipped it out. It was located where the DART Rail station is now.”
McDaniel has seen major changes in Garland.
“I was 11-years-old when we came here and I have seen 77 years of change. It’s gradual so you adjust,” McDaniel said. “But really, the more we change, the more we stay the same.”
The previous owner still goes to work at the store on Sunday afternoons and will continue to do that for a while.
“I still l
ove the store,” he said. “And we’ve got the greatest customers we could ask for.”
Carter is excited and grateful for this opportunity.
“I’ve been here for 28 years and I’d like to see this business continue to grow and be a part of the community,” she said. “This way I know that it can.”
She explained that her intention was to work at the store while she was in school and never thought she would be there this long or that she would purchase the store.
Carter believes that customers continue to shop at Roach’s because of the quality of assistance they get. Th
e staff can diagnose problems, tell customers what they need and how to use it. They don’t just have products on a shelf to sell.
“We love our customers and I want to keep having the opportunity to help them,” she said. “I have no plans for any major changes. The business has always catered to its customers and we want to continue that. I would, at some point, like to see new options like call-in or curbside service, maybe even delivery in the future.”
Carter wants to keep up with the way the world is going, “but not change our roots, not change where we came from and not change how we take care of customers.”