‘A rising tide helps all ships sail’: Rockdale business owners weigh in on economic growth

ROCKDALE, Texas (KBTX) – Over the weekend, Rockdale residents could hear the loud booms of the former Alcoa plant being demolished.

Alcoa, an aluminum plant and major employer in the community, halted work at its Rockdale plant in 2008. Now the space will be developed, including the addition of a natural gas power plant. Construction is set to begin in 2025.

Businesses large and small have been setting up shop in Rockdale, and the area has seen a recent increase in economic growth.

It’s growth that fifth-generation Rockdale resident Brittany Bell said is much needed. Bell, a vendor at Moon River Designs, has lived in Rockdale almost her entire life and is now raising the sixth generation of her family in the area.

She said after Alcoa left, it was challenging until small businesses stepped up to fill the gaps.

“We have wonderful small businesses who have picked up the slack for different needs, and they’ve been wonderful. Every small business owner that I personally know here all have the mindset, kinda, of ‘a rising tide helps all ships sail,’” she said.

Her father worked at Alcoa before its closure.

“Alcoa was kind of the backbone of this community. When you needed something, you went to Uncle Alcoa. They provided a lot,” Bell said.

Since then, Rockdale has started to invest in economic development. The city has attracted large companies like Samsung, and small business owners like Rita Quinn Gameiro.

“It still has that hometown vibe where people help one another, and that was really an opportunity for us to take advantage of,” Gameiro said.

Gameiro owns Moon Brew Coffee Company. She first opened a coffee cart in 2023, but said she outgrew it in months. On Feb. 24 she held her grand opening after moving to a historic building in downtown Rockdale.

“People tell us that they come from College Station and from Round Rock or somewhere in Austin and they’re meeting here in the middle. And so we are becoming a true crossroads,” she added.

According to Gameiro, the sleepy town is finally waking up.

“Really, a key thing that Rockdalians have is just a strong sense of hope for the future,” she said.

Rockdale is celebrating its 150th anniversary in July. Gameiro is part of the coordination for the event.

She said that although she isn’t from Rockdale, she’s proud to see the area grow and the small business community expand.

“I feel like high tides raise all ships,” she said.