2015 Rooted in the Rapids

Every morning at 8 am, Charles Allen opens the Community Drive-In Restaurant of Roanoke Rapids along with his daughter Linda and sister Patsy. Beyond its “world famous hot dogs”, the restaurant is a staple in the area for its inviting atmosphere and deep-rooted ideal that everyone is family. Locals have been coming back for the same food and friendly faces that greeted them in 1951, when the drive-in first opened. The restaurant has stayed in the Allen family ever since. When challenges arise, their resiliency and faith in both the family and the business give a new meaning to the definition of ‘home.’