A long-operating automotive repair shop in College Park has been shuttered since February, and its owner, Roderick Rogers, is fighting to keep his business alive.
Rogers, who owns Rogers Repair Shop, said the city has refused to renew his business license and has sought to close the business down permanently.
His attorney, Erin Coleman, said the business is being unfairly targeted, first through city-issued violations and now by claiming that Rogers Repair Shop is operating illegally under current zoning.
“There has been a general attack on my client’s business,” Coleman said.
A hearing on the zoning issue between Rogers and the city of College Park is scheduled for Tuesday in Fulton County Superior Court. Coleman is seeking a ruling that recognizes Rogers Repair Shop as a “legally non-conforming business” under a 1965 city ordinance.
Zoning at that time was changed, and the 1965 ordinance would state how businesses are grandfathered into new zoning regulations, Coleman explained.
The property at 2525 Riverdale Road was classified in a C-class until 2016, when it became zoned as office professional, she added.
Requests for comment were not returned or were declined when SaportaReport contacted the city attorney’s office, the communications department, and Councilman Roderick Gay, who represents Ward IV, where Rogers Repair Shop is located.
The property is owned by Mark Hollums, who developed it in the 1960s as a full-service gas station. The gas tanks were removed in 1990, according to Coleman.
Rogers’ late father began leasing the property in 2003 and opened Rogers Repair Shop. The business specializes in repair, paint and restoration. When the elder Rogers died in 2011, his son took over operations.
But, in recent years, the city of College Park has cited the business for issues ranging from paint fumes to poor property conditions. In 2017, Rogers installed a fence at the direction of the city, but was later told the same fence violated code, he said.
Other citations ordered him to add signage, remove a tree, take down stored tires that were along a wall, and more, all of which he says he complied with.
“Last [year] they came and said they wanted to do a surprise inspection,” Rogers said. “They found all these violations. I fixed all nine things, and they came back with a reinspection and cited another seven or eight violations. I addressed those too… Now they say it’s an illegal business.”
Rogers believes Gay is behind city efforts to permanently close his business. His attorney raised those concerns during a nuisance and abatement hearing last year.
Rogers provided SaportaReport with numerous emails that include Councilman Gay alleging violations at Rogers Repair Shop. In a 2023 email, Gay states that a “city camera is pointed at his lot to provide strict proof.” His note was addressed to the city attorney, the economic development director, the city manager, code enforcement and community development, and the police chief.
Another 2023 email from the economic development director stated that, “for months,” code enforcement officers conducted two to three daily patrols past Rogers Repair Shop.
The economic development director noted that one citation had been dismissed for lack of evidence.
Rogers believes city leaders are interested in redeveloping the site for other uses. He has seen blueprints for an aquatic center to be built at his location, he said.
Unrelated to zoning, Rogers Repair Shop was the target of two possible arson attacks, one in 2021 and another in September 2024. The investigations remain unresolved.
A fire department report of the 2021 incident stated that “two empty gas cans were found between two cars in the front of the building.”
Video captured the night of the 2024 incident and provided by Rogers, shows an individual walking in the direction of the camera holding two objects that Rogers believes were two gas cans. Later, the individual is seen cutting across the grass, seemingly leaving the area, with only one gas can in hand.
“I am still floored about what is going on,” Rogers said.
Wow, can’t believe that is happening. Sounds like the government can do whatever they want to do to benefit them
Definitely seems like an attack on a long lasting family business. That’s extremely sad and bullying at its finest. I hope this business wins in court and exposes all parties involved.
Roger’s restored my 68 firebird. Love this business. Keep fighting!!!
Rogers AUTO has restored several cars of mine throughout the years. Someone hit my car from behind and Rod restored it like new. I pray that he’s able to continue doing business on Riverdale Rd., because my husband wants to have some work done on his car now.
“God’s Grace is always sufficient”. I’m Barbara Jordan, a long time resident of College Park, I knew the late Mr. Rogers. He was a man of the upmost integrity. Roger Rogers is cut from the same cloth.
These tactics reminded of the of Micah in the Bible. Roger Rogers is not the only Victim in this Saga in the City and Gay.
I’ve lived in this community for over 25 years. I know first the Professionalism of Rogers and his Business. Rogers have Built his Business as a “Good Neighbor”. I’m Saddened to see this type of “David and Goliath bullying”.
I’m a veteran, I served my Country and my community. I believe strongly in Family and Community.
Mr.Rogers, need to be allowed to operate his Business as a “Disadvantage Businessman” with all rights and Privileges, afforded any other Business.
Best regards
Barbara Price-Jordan
22AUG2025
Ah yes, my time working for the city… a front-row seat to the Gay Show, where Code Enforcement wasn’t used to protect the community or uphold standards, but rather to harass Rogers and, let’s be honest, anyone else who dared exist without his royal approval. He weaponized an entire department like it was his own petty little army. And when staff had the audacity to show a spine? He’d threaten them too. Leadership goals, am I right?
The best part? This ridiculous power-tripping is still happening. Rogers was grandfathered in. Period. End of story. No debate. But hey, why honor long-standing rules when you can just rewrite them on a whim for your personal vendetta?
Honestly, this is giving the same unhinged energy as Joe’s little crusade to control the package stores that were also, you guessed it, grandfathered. Because apparently, if you can’t run the city well, you might as well try to micromanage the liquor licenses. Priorities!
And speaking of city management… what’s that? We don’t actually have any? Oh right, because instead of hiring a city manager who manages things like… I don’t know, a city, we’ve got folks out here staging photo shoots next to freshly paved roads like they’re influencers promoting hot asphalt.
Until someone with actual integrity takes the wheel… and Jamelle, Carn, and Gay are definitely not it, this city is basically on a slow-motion conveyor belt to disaster.
Thank you for insight. My feelings of what I’ve seen has been confirmed. I pray Roderick wins this battle. The shop does great work. Gay has to go, he’s a tyrant IMO. A straight baby if he doesn’t get his way.
You left out two so-called leaders who put the current city manager in place so that they can continue to carry out their illegal disastrous deeds, Bianca and Tracie, who by the way are ignorantly running the city into the ground. If you are going to post as a know it all self righteous individual about integrity, try practicing just that in your message, rather than being a hypocrite. Bianca is the main reason this city is going to hell in a hand basket. She’s done nothing for us and she turns our meetings into political theater. She loves hiring persons who are inexperienced just so she can act like she’s the smartest person in the room. College Park deserves better!
Bianca and Tracie appear to be the only members of council who have the best interests of College Park in their minds. The vindictive, self-serving actions of the other three are constant and
painful to watch.
This is sad, and I have personal watched this saga developing since I moved to this area in 2013 and subsequently became a client of the business. When we’ve thought of the phrase Black on Black crime, our attention immediately turn to the streets. It’s sad that Roderick Gay, a city official, is the culprit to this black on black crime.
I’ve watched Gay make his staple in the City of College Park through election after election. Which fostered posting his picture all over the city and in the park. What a way to showcase yourself out front and be the devil in the background: wanting to be [known] for what he did, versus allowing people to just feel the good. Well, we knew before this article- your dirty deeds, and it’s high time for your ruling. You and all the cowards who uphold you in wrong doing. The law of seed-time and harvest misses noone. What a man sows, he ALSO reaps! From your bad seeds (deeds), your harvest fastly ensues.
Now regarding Roderick Rogers, the guy is just a genuine guy. No pushover…and that’s why he’s fighting against the wilds of our government’s bad actors. Fighting to save a legacy that emerged in a country that constantly seeks the demise of black owned businesses, black owners, and black families…and in this instance, at the behest of another black man.
Stand tall Roderick, these wayward attempts are swallowed in victory!!!
Mr.Rogers, need to be allowed to operate his Business as a “Disadvantage Businessman” with all rights and Privileges, afforded any other Business. He has done several repairs on my car and this needs to stop let him operate his business in peace.
This is an outrage!! This business has been in this community forever!! We need to pull together to come up with a solution that is amicable for everyone..Rod is the epitome of what a black business owner and representative of the community should be !! Respectfully
This is sad that a business who hasn’t done anything criminal, has been subjected to being closed due to the ego of a city council. Appointed by citizens that silently stand by while this tyrant uses departments inside the city to harass businesses and some citizens. Those that stand by tend to think they are gaining something from his efforts. He has a festival in the ward, opened a splash pad that kids in the area don’t use, then comes this homestead bill. All of those things are positive and needed, and can be spoke about to anyone who is willing to listen and help. I get it. You have to give so that the real issues you are doing behind the scenes don’t get seen.
So Rodgers automotive has been harassed by code enforcement and by the police department. All with complaints that were initiated by Councilman Gay. There is email proof of this. Code enforcement is not able to close a business, so what do you do? You get the officers to issue citations so it looks like a pattern of nuisance. When in fact, code enforcements major role is to gain compliance, and if a citation is issued, the entity has the ability to come into compliance. The building official who was in charge of the department for a few months, Marcus Robinson was apart of the harassment. He hired Jerry Silver and he was in direct contact with Councilman Gay and at the time, the city manager, to do whatever to close Mr Rodgers business. Jerry Silver initiated the zoning issue, not knowing that the business had been grandfathered. Marcus Robinson then initiated that Rodgers auto needed an inspection and placed it under an abatement process, which him personally carried out and told Mr Rodgers that all the repairs and cleaning of the property that had been done, that he was in compliance.
But thats just minor because no one will look at the totality of this situation. Councilman Gay gave the order to turn a camera, which was placed on the street for safety reasons, to watch Rodgers auto. Not for illegal activity, but to catch him working outside the bay doors of his establishment so that his complaints that he was filing was solidified. He was sending pictures via text, email and personally contacting employees to direct them to “cite” the business. Code enforcement policy, if we see you violating a code we warn you with notices first, then we issue citations for you to appear in court. But not to close your business, to make you comply with city ordinances. If you refuse, after that, we label your business a nuisance and you have to go before Mayor and Council for a revocation of your license. None of that process happens because you have people who fear that they will get fired for doing their job. Then you have employees like Jerry Silver who will try and get under management or council by acting out of the scope of the job description to please.
But this is basically a rant that wont get heard. There is evidence and the powers that be who see it turn a blind eye to it. Councilman Gay will still be in his seat for anther term, and Mr Rodgers will have to suffer because he cant fight the system alone. The City of College Park is governed by ego. Employees are afraid to speak, and afraid that if I make the wrong person mad I could lose my job. Nobody speaks for them either. For pete sake, THEY CLOSED AN ENTIRE APARTMENT COMPLEX! Not because they were trying to help the people, because it’s one right next door to those that are rat infested, poorly structural sound, and failed multiple inspections. Half the building apartment are vacant and gutted. But once again, nothing will happen and these people will continue to be in those positions.
This is crazy seeing a black entrepreneur go through this is insane. A business that looks out for his people in the community. Never gave a negative impression on me as a long time customer. Mr. Roger doesn’t deserve this treatment especially if he didn’t commit any crime. I hope it gets handled soon and fair. We need our black entrepreneurs in our community.
At the end of the day, this has been a crusade to force my uncle into retirement because Gay wants that property and he has no way to obtain it legally. My family has been there for well over 20 years at this point and it should not be subject to zoning as the property itself should have been grandfathered in. But I guess when a corrupt government official wants something, they bend the law and use government assets to their own benefit.
I was a customer of Mr Roger’s father for years and now his son. They have always ran a clean and honest business and been a pillar in the community. It is wrong what Mr Rogers and his family are being put through and should be stopped immediately