The Town of Roseboro celebrated the completed renovation of the GC Thomas Building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 5. 

The town purchased 109-C Roseboro St. in downtown Roseboro in 2022 with plans for renovating it and outfitting the space to accommodate new tenants. This two-story, brick commercial structure was built by local merchant GC Thomas after a fire in December of 1921, which destroyed much of Roseboro Street. Originally a dry goods store, then a funeral home, then a furniture store, the space had been vacant for decades when the Town took over ownership. 

Standing inside the newly renovated space, Mayor Alice Butler opened the event by emphasizing that, while the building is beautiful, it is the community that truly makes it special.

“I often tell people that in government, things take time, perseverance and partnerships,” shared Mayor Butler. “When I talk about relationships and partnerships, this project is exactly what I mean. Renovating this building took teamwork at every single level.” 

The revitalization of the GC Thomas Building was made possible through an $825,000 Rural Transformation Grant and a $212,000 Rural Economic Development Grant.

“As a Small Town Main Street community, we have access to many valuable resources. One of those is our eligibility to apply for the Rural Transformation Grant,” shared Mayor Butler.

The purpose of the Rural Transformation Grant is to provide local governments with funds and expert guidance to improve economic vitality and overcome the unique challenges many rural communities face.

Representatives from NC Department of Commerce also spoke at the event, reflecting on their early visits to the building when it was still in poor condition and required visitors to carefully navigate damaged floors.

“We are absolutely thrilled to invest in Roseboro, to be a partner with Roseboro, to make a difference in Roseboro and Sampson County. This project, I think, is just the beginning for this community, and we’re really looking forward to seeing new opportunities [here], as well as seeing new opportunities for us to invest,” shared Director of the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center Elizabeth Parham.

The building is approximately 3600 square feet in size and offers two studio apartments as well as retail space. The smaller apartment is $800 per month, with the larger apartment being $900 per month. The retail space is also $900 per month. 

Roseboro’s downtown has been designated a historic downtown. This designation allows the property owners to receive tax credits when they renovate, as long as they preserve the historic character.

The work in revitalizing downtown has only begun. Small Town Main Street Director Tyler Wise shared that now the Town is focused on securing a grant to allow them to purchase the building next door and begin renovating it. The plan is to replicate the layout of the GC Thomas Building, with retail space on the bottom and apartments on the upper level. 

The ribbon-cutting for the GC Thomas Building symbolized not just the opening of a renovated structure, but the continuation of Roseboro’s broader downtown renaissance, a story of collaboration, persistence and community pride.