“We present this plaque for your years and years of service to customers and your community,” said Fairfield Mayor Kenneth Hughes to Carolyn and Danny Robertson, owners of Rob’s Food Store and Laundromat, who officially retired on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

The plaque was presented by the City of Fairfield to honor the family’s fifty years in business.

History of Robertson Food Stores

CJ (Carl Jackson – Danny’s daddy) was born and raised in Fairfield but moved to Houston after high school and worked in a drug store. He moved back to Fairfield in 1946. At this time CJ had two chicken houses where he raised chickens and had an ice route where he delivered ice to cafes and drink boxes in the area.

In 1957 CJ bought a grocery store on the square and renamed it Robertson’s Food Store (where the Marlboro Building was across from Hometown Pharmacy). In 1969, the store relocated to the Hill Building and remained there until it closed in 1990. The store became a family business and was run by CJ and his four boys, Jack, Danny, Bobby and Billy David (Bo).

In 1971, CJ talked Danny into moving back to Fairfield after coaching and teaching for the last 6 years.

CJ bought the land that Rob’s Drive In is built on in May 1971 (at the time it was the old Sinclair Station – Blacksmith Shop and Bonner Garage). Danny bought the store from CJ in 1976. In 1978, Rob’s Laundromat was added on.

In the late 1970’s CJ and the sons bought Cavanaugh’s Grocery Store in Teague. This was a family run store until they closed it in the mid 1980’s when Brookshire’s came in.

In the early 1980’s, CJ bought Rob’s Fairpark Grocery and added this to the family businesses. Jack ran this store until they sold it to Joe Bond in the early 1990’s.

Rob’s Drive In on the Interstate was built in the mid 1980’s. Bo (Billy David) ran this store until it was sold to Ponte Daniel in the early 1990’s.

At the time that Rob’s Drive In burned in May of 1994 due to an electrical short, it was the last of the remaining Robertson Family Stores. Even though the fire destroyed most of the merchandise, all that was salvageable was sold outside on the sidewalk; coffee, cigarettes, soft drinks, etc. until the rebuild. The gas pumps were able to run after hooking up an electrical line to them from the laundromat. Danny’s employees never missed a paycheck. The entire town turned out to help with the cleanup and rebuild. Rob’s was rebuilt in 2-3 months. At this time the outside doors and cash registers were switched to the east end of the building where they remain today. Rob’s Drive In has been an active part of the Fairfield community for the last 50 years and Danny and Carolyn Robertson are so loved and will be truly missed by so many in the Freestone County area.

Congrats to Danny and Carolyn on 50 years! We wish them a very happy retirement.