Rutherford County Ford Club

We the members of the Rutherford County Ford Club wish to express our love and support for our close friend; Wayne Rollins.  Wayne is an oustanding member of the community, he kindness extends far beyond what most people even realize.  Wayne is a supporter of  Relay For Life, he supports many other charities within the community and has a passion for helping others.  We the members of the Rutherford County Ford Club are proud to have his as a friend and sponsor of our club.  For everything you do Wayne, we love and appreciate you.  Our prayers are with you!

Blaze destroys popular eatery

by Jean Gordon

FOREST CITY — Rollins Cafeteria was destroyed by fire Thursday night, leaving about 18 people unemployed, hundreds of patrons without their favorite eating establishment and the owner broken hearted.

Wayne Rollins fought back tears Friday morning standing outside the business he has owned for almost seven years. He rented the building from Webb Hunt and owned the business and its contents. The building, still standing, and contents were insured.

Rollins was at home Thursday night when he received the call. He rushed to the scene and was stopped from going inside by firefighters at the scene.

“I tried to go in,” he said, his eyes filling with tears.

Putting his arm around his mother, Susie Byers, who was employed at the cafeteria, Rollins thanked her for her always present support.

“She was my day off,” Rollins said. Either he or his mother were always at the restaurant every day it was open.

Re-establishing his restaurant is still undetermined, but Wayne admitted he didn’t know what else he could do.

“I’ll have to see what we will do.”

“I’ve been doing this since I was 14,” Rollins said. “I started working at Dockside when I was 14. I don’t know what else I could do or would do.”

After college, Rollins managed Wade’s in Spartanburg, S.C.

“We’ll see what everybody wants to do. But there is no need to stop now. I don’t know what else to do.”

“This year has been good,” Rollins said. “We made it through last year.”

Although he had to cut his staff from about 25 to 18, “all those here were working about 40 hours,” he said.

Rollins Catering was doing well and a number of weddings and parties had already been scheduled.

“We’ve got to find something for these people,” he said of his employees. “Some of these employees have kids.”

He was anxious to talk to the insurance company.

As Rollins, Byers and a number of other employes stood outside the building Friday, people drove by in their vehicles, rolling down windows and calling out to express their sorrow.

“I’m so sorry. This was my Sunday eating place,” said Carolyn Kiser. “I’ll be praying.”

It was the Sunday lunch place for 600-plus people, Wayne said. He stopped the Sunday night breakfast bar because of such a heavy lunch crowd, and the work was too exhausting for the small business staff.

“This was like a family,” Rollins continued. “You would just be surprised at the people who came every single day.”

Dorlis and Rudolph Gilliam were among regular patrons. Recently Dorlis broke a hip and had to be hospitalized. Wayne visited her while she was there. She is like family. When Mr. Gilliam came in one day last week alone, cashier Crystal Green bought his supper.

“When you see people every day they become your family and close friends,” Byers said.

Friday they waited for another senior citizen couple to arrive.

“They eat here every day and are always the first to arrive,” Byers said. Apparently they had heard the news and didn’t come over Friday.

“She always says, ‘Looks like we’re eating a lot today,” Byers said. She always ordered two vegetables and cheese cake. “She liked her desserts.

Dot Burgin was another regular. She kept asking for a pot of white beans.

“When she didn’t show up at 5:15 p.m. we would wonder where she was,” Rollins said.

Rollins said the menu was rev amped last year after repeated requests for the cafeteria’s broccoli casserole and sweet potatoes. Both were added to the daily menu.

“Restaurant people are different people. We work the nights, weekends and holidays — 9 to 5 p.m. don’t mean nothing to a restaurant,” Rollins said.

Rollins would have celebrated seven years in July.

He and his staff were involved in the community service and had plaques of appreciation for their years of work supporting Relay for Life. On another wall outside the entrance were at least half dozen “Best of Rutherford” certificates from The Daily Courier sponsored contest where patrons had voted them for “Best of” in a number of categories over the years.

Lying among broken smoke stained glass outside the entrance, were other posters announcing events for community.

The decor was “homey” with antiques hanging on walls.

Lots of times people came in toward th e back of the restaurant, facing the television, where they watched the evening news or Wheel of Fortune while having supper.

Dedmond Martin has been a dishwasher at the business since it’s beginning.

“Man. This is crazy,” he said. He received a text message Friday morning and joined his fellow co-workers and boss, hovering near the concrete wall near the entrance.

Heather Dale has also been working with Rollins since it opened.

“I’ve been here seven years almost and I didn’t think this would be the way it would be over,” she said.

Wayne’s girlfriend was among those at the scene Friday morning. “He is broken-hearted.”

“Right now, I’m lost,” Rollins said.

Thanks for reading!

Wayne Rollins  Owner and operator of "Rollins Cafe" in Forest City North Carolina suffered a sad loss this week.  His business was badly damaged by fire.  We the Rutherford County Ford Club wish to extend our love and support to Wayne, his family and the staff of Rollins Cafe.  Our prayers are with each person touched by this fire.