Roderick Rogers, owner of Rogers Repair Shop in College Park, is fighting to keep his long-established business alive after the city refused to renew his business license and initiated moves to shut it down permanently.
The contentious situation has escalated, as Rogers and his attorney, Erin Coleman, contend that his shop is being unfairly targeted by the city, facing numerous violations and claims of operating illegally under current zoning laws.
“There has been a general attack on my client’s business,” Coleman said, pointing to a hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court concerning zoning issues.
Coleman is seeking a court ruling to classify Rogers Repair Shop as a “legally non-conforming business” under a 1965 city ordinance that provides protections for businesses established before zoning changes.
The zoning designation for the property at 2525 Riverdale Road was changed to office professional in 2016, while the shop was classified under a C-class use until then.
Attempts to gather comments from city officials, including the attorney’s office, the communications department, and Councilman Roderick Gay, who represents Ward IV, were either declined or left unanswered.
The land where Rogers Repair Shop operates was initially developed as a full-service gas station in the 1960s by Mark Hollums. According to Coleman, gas tanks were removed from the property in 1990.
Rogers’ father began leasing the property in 2003 and opened the repair shop. After Rogers Sr. passed away in 2011, Roderick took over the business, which specializes in automotive repair, painting, and restoration services.
In recent years, the city of College Park has issued several citations to Rogers for various alleged violations, ranging from issues related to paint fumes to property conditions deemed unsatisfactory.
Rogers recounted that in 2017 he was directed by the city to install a fence, which was later cited as a code violation, highlighting the perceived inconsistencies in how the city is handling the enforcement.
Despite Rogers’ compliance with past orders, he claims that the city cited him for additional violations after surprise inspections, which he addressed only to face further allegations of operating illegally.
Rogers has expressed concern that Councilman Gay is spearheading the efforts to close his business, a claim previously raised during a nuisance and abatement hearing.
In emails shared with SaportaReport, Gay identified violations at Rogers Repair Shop and indicated that city surveillance is in place to monitor the business’s activities.
In a 2023 correspondence, Gay mentioned that a camera had been set up to ensure strict oversight of the shop.
The economic development director noted ongoing surveillance by code enforcement officers, who were observed conducting numerous daily patrols of the establishment, although one of the reported citations was dismissed for lack of evidence.
Rogers fears that city officials have plans to redevelop the area, claiming to have seen blueprints for an aquatic center that would be situated on his business’s site.
In addition to the zoning battles, Rogers Repair Shop has also been the target of two suspicious incidents believed to be arson within the last few years—one occurring in 2021 and another in September 2024.
Both cases remain unresolved, adding to the pressures Rogers faces. A report from the fire department regarding the 2021 incident indicated that two empty gas cans had been discovered between parked cars in front of the shop.
In the more recent fire case, Rogers shared video evidence showing an individual near his premises carrying gas cans shortly before a fire was reported.
“I am still floored about what is going on,” Rogers expressed, reflecting on the challenges his business is confronting.
As Rogers prepares for the upcoming hearing, he remains hopeful that the court will recognize the history of his business and the challenges he has faced amid the city’s aggressive actions.
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