01/23/2026
A Heartfelt Farewell from Cole’s Pharmacy
As of January 30th, 2026, Cole’s Pharmacy will be closing our doors, bringing to an end a long chapter of service to our most loyal and cherished customers. This decision has not been made lightly. It comes with deep appreciation for the community that has embraced us for nearly seven decades. Cole’s Pharmacy has always been more than a local drug store. We have taken pride in serving our customers—whether filling prescriptions, offering detailed information about medications, or recommending over‑the‑counter solutions for everyday health concerns. Our one‑on‑one relationships with customers, built through personal interactions with our pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, reflect the values instilled in us by our father, James Carver.
Cole’s Pharmacy also became known for something a little different: the best hot dogs in Person County—period. Our grill became a gathering place for families and friends to enjoy lunch together. Beyond hot dogs, we served BBQ, chicken salad, cold‑cut sandwiches, our signature hot dog sandwiches, freshly squeezed orange‑ade and lemon‑ade, milkshakes, and ice cream. We always kept our prices affordable because serving the “common man” was a core part of our mission.
We also loved welcoming students from Roxboro Community School, Southern Middle School, Bethel Hill School, and Northern Middle School during their Uptown Roxboro career‑day visits. Their excitement as they explored the “old‑timey” pharmacy tools—like the vintage credit card imprinter with carbon paper—was priceless. We often joked that we had been “swiping” long before millennials ever thought about it. Sharing this history mattered to us, and we hope it made a lasting impression on the students who visited.
One of our favorite community traditions was the annual hot dog eating contest at the Personality Festival, hosted by the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce each fall. It was always a highlight, and 2025 brought a special moment when the winner happened to be the son of the 2024 champion. Family is at the heart of everything we do, and that moment captured it perfectly. With Zach Carver as emcee, the event was always wholesome, fun, and full of laughter. We will forever cherish those memories.
Cole’s Pharmacy began in 1956, when Al Cole took a chance on hiring a skinny 14‑year‑old from East Roxboro—James Carver, who some said resembled a young Elvis. James started at the very bottom: sweeping floors, emptying trash, mopping, and hand‑delivering medicine throughout the city. Over time, he became the “top chef” at our world‑famous grill.
After high school, James briefly entered the textile industry, quickly realizing it wasn’t his calling. He returned to the place that had shaped his early life—Cole’s Pharmacy. Determined to follow in Al Cole’s footsteps, he attended Louisburg College and later applied to the UNC‑Chapel Hill School of Pharmacy. He was accepted and graduated in 1972. After passing the Pharmacy Board exam on his first attempt, Al Cole immediately offered him a pharmacist position. The rest, as they say, is history.
James and Al worked side by side until 2019, when Al retired and sold the business and building to James. James served as sole owner and manager until he became gravely ill and passed away on December 22, 2022, after a courageous battle with leukemia and gastroparesis. After his passing, the business entered a period of uncertainty. His children, Robbie Carver and Christie Carver Rochefort, stepped in to continue operations, fighting tirelessly against the challenges posed by large corporate competitors and the unfair reimbursement practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). We hoped that North Carolina’s passage of Senate Bill SL 2025‑69 in 2025, would bring relief, but unfortunately, no meaningful changes have occurred. Despite having the best group of employees, most especially our Pharmacist in Charge-Tammy Stewart Gilbert & Technician, Stacy Hogan, the time has come to close this chapter.
We are profoundly grateful to have served Uptown Roxboro for 69 years and 5 months. We survived the difficult COVID years—economically and personally—and we look back with pride at the impact Cole’s Pharmacy has had on this community. Many of our former employees went on to become pharmacists, doctors, nurses, pharmacy technicians, business leaders, and more. We also mentored countless high school students who learned valuable skills working the grill on Saturdays, making deliveries, or helping with maintenance.
Cole’s Pharmacy has proudly supported the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce for over 50 years, as well as the Roxboro Area Merchants Association, the Roxboro Jaycees, the Roxboro Rotary Club, and numerous local fundraisers. One organization especially close to our hearts is the Person County Group Homes, where James Carver served as President for many years. His leadership reflected the values we upheld every day: serving everyone—regardless of race, s*x, creed, physical or mental ability, or financial status. We have always strived to make every person who walked through our doors feel welcomed and valued. Our “gung‑ho” staff embodied the spirit needed to make Uptown Roxboro a better place to live, work, visit, raise a family, and care for one another.
The sun is setting on Cole’s Pharmacy, and our final day of operation will be January 30th, 2026. While we are heartbroken to reach this moment, the memories, friendships, and successes far outweigh the hardships. We are grateful beyond words for the support Roxboro and Person County have shown us for nearly seven decades.
There will never be another Cole’s Pharmacy. We hope to see you over the next week whether it is to assist in prescription transferral, cashing in on deals from our “Bargain Wall”, over-the-counter supplies, gifts or grabbing your favorite lunch time eats! Come see us one last time! A modified hours update will follow in a separate post.
Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the support.
With love and gratitude,
Robbie Carver & Christie Carver Rochefort
Cole’s Pharmacy
