Smith-Lockwood celebrates their 70th year in business

A Rockmart store who has been in business for generations continues on with celebration of their 70th anniversary on Marble Street.

Customers were greeted last week on Monday, Feb. 13 with cake and chances for prize giveaways when they entered Smith-Lockwood Drug and Jewelry, along with sales to start off the week of 20 percent off everything in the store for the day.

Savings continue through the rest of the month of February on select groups of gift items at 70 percent off to celebrate the anniversary according to the current generation to own the store, Sondi Smith Vest.

Vest grew up in the store and is the fourth generation involved in running the store, having began her work in the family business in her teens as she helped her father and grandfather the late Steve Smith and O. E. Smith, with customers.

“Christmases when I came down and wrapped gifts was always my favorite time of the year,” Vest s aid. “My granddad taught me how to wrap gifts and take care of the customers.”

The store has continued on as Smith Lockwood all these years since it was first purchasedin 1947 by O. E. Smith and James “Max” Lockwood when it was Barrow’s Drug Store and owned by Fred Barrow.

Smith and Lockwood, both veterans of World War II, arrived in Rockmart with the hope they would serve the public in a manner comparable to what they had always received at the business.

Now many years later, the store retains much of its original charm and hospitality to customers since Vest said they have remained both loyal and appreciative of what Smith-Lockwood has to offer.

“We have customers who stay with us no matter what. They work with their insurance and keep coming back to us,” Vest said. “So we hope our customers will stay with us and stay loyal in the years ahead.”

Vest said her hopes too are the store remain in family hands, and remains much as it is today.

“We want to keep it in the small town we love, and that level of customer service we provide, especially the one-on-one interaction where we all get to know each other, and not just be customers but friends,” Vest said.

Smith- Lockwood i s open Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and are closed on Sundays.

Visit their Facebook page for more on the store.

Kevin Myrick / Standard Journal Sondi Smith Vest (back, from left), Judy Haney, Burch Fannin, David Burnley, Allison Sauce (front, from left), Paulette Jackson, Amanda Weaver, Teresa Astin, Elaine Casey, Teresa Beck all gather together Feb. 13 to celebrate Smith-Lockwood Drug and...

Kevin Myrick / SJ Smith Lockwood Jewelry and Drug celebrates their 70th anniversaryin Rockmart on Feb. 13. The store is located on Marble Street.