Rock-N-Rogers to close two remaining Salem locations, keep Rickreall open

Glen and Loydee Stonebrink are closing the last two remaining Salem locations of Rock-N-Rogers, the long-established 1950s-style diner.

The 3235 Market Street NE location with its iconic pink Cadillac will close following service on Sunday, Sept. 22, while the Eola Inn overlooking the Willamette River at 4250 Salem-Dallas Highway NW will close Friday, Sept. 27. 

Earlier this year the couple closed the yellow and red painted Rock-N-Rogers at 3135 Commercial SE. 

All that will remain is the Rock-n-Rogers at Farrol's Restaurant in Rickreall. 

The Stonebrinks have operated the businesses since 2012, but the origins date back 30 years.

More:Rock-N-Rogers, open since 1994 on Commercial, will close this Sunday

Darlene and Roger Hawley opened the first Rock-N-Rogers at 1405 Broadway Street NE in 1988 in a former sandwich shop on the corner of Hood Street NE.

The restaurant, decorated in black and white, was meant to be a throwback to the 1950s offering visitors a chance to, as the restaurant's early advertisements read, "taste a burger from the days before fast food."

In 1994, Roger Hawley Jr. chose Commercial Street for the second Rock-N-Rogers and Market Street as the third. The Stonebrinks took over the operations 25 years later.

A major reason behind the South Commerical closure this past February had to do with a leaking roof, Glen Stonebrink said, and a landlord dispute over who was responsible for repairs. 

At the time, Stonebrink said he was seeking a buyer for the remaining locations, but hadn't been able to find one. Now, he's closing them instead. 

Stonebrink cites Oregon's minimum wage increase as a primary reason behind his need to close the remaining two businesses located in lease properties.

More:Oregon minimum wage earners will get a 50-cent raise in July, but is it enough? 

"When we started it was $8.25 and now it's $11. I can't charge $30 for a hamburger."

"If it wasn't so expensive I could hire someone to do what I do," but instead, he said, he works daily at the restaurants. 

"These legislators want to impose sick leave and maternity leave and so on. Maybe other people are getting rich at it, but I'm not."

This, said Stonebrink, coupled with the fact that he's turning 80 this year, cements his desire to simplify. 

"My goal is not to die in the restaurant and have them carry me out in a box." 

Because the Stonebrink's own the Rickreall building at 670 S Pacific Highway W, they've decided to continue operating Rock-n-Rogers at Farrol's Restaurant. 

"Maybe we can keep one mom-and-pop place open," he said. 

Stonebrink plans to sell the fixtures and equipment from the two closing locations at a later date. 

Emily Teel is the Food & Drink Editor at the Statesman Journal. Contact her at eteel@statesmanjournal.com, Facebook, or Twitter. See what she's cooking and where she's eating this week on Instagram: @emily_teel