The Roxton Grocery and Cafe is a family-owned supply station surrounded by scenic rolling hills and cornfields. Roxton is a quiet little town off the beaten path about 15 miles southwest of Paris in northeast Texas.
“It’s a great place to grow up,” says Michael Bush, the owner of the grocery store along with his wife Michele. Both have lived here most of their lives. Michele worked at the grocery store for nine years before they bought it in 2002.
Established in 1837, Roxton is one of the oldest settlements in Lamar County. The population peaked around 1914 at 1,200, but has held steady near 700 for most of the last 100 years. The surrounding farmland has supported generations of residents.
The grocery store opened in the Forties when the town had two banks, two theatres, and three grocery stores. Today, most of the three-block-long business district is empty. Small signs on the buildings tell of the town’s former vitality.
Since the Northeast Texas Trail replaced the railroad tracks through town, the Bushes have supported the 130-mile rails-to-trails project. The recreational trail crosses a three-arch masonry bridge on the northern edge of town.
The Roxton Grocery is open daily from 7am to 8pm, and on Sundays from 9am to 2pm. The cafe serves daily specials as well as burgers and sandwiches for lunch Monday through Saturday, with dinner options Wednesday through Friday from 5 to 8pm.
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This article appears in August 1 • 2014.
