More Than a Grocery Store: The History of Smith's Red & White
For more than 70 years, Smith's Red & White has been a familiar name throughout Eastern North Carolina. Known for its homemade sausage, fresh meats, and Southern favorites, this family-owned business in Dortches has become much more than a neighborhood grocery store. It's a local tradition that has been passed down through generations.
In the Fall 2026 edition of Tar River Art + Culture Magazine, we're taking a look back at the history of Smith's Red & White and the family behind its lasting success.
The story began in 1954 when S.B. Smith, a long-haul truck driver, started selling seed, feed, fertilizer, and basic hardware from a small wooden storefront at Dortches Crossroads, a location that had previously been the old Dortches Schoolhouse. What began as a way to stay close to the telephone for trucking jobs soon grew into a business that would become a staple of the community.
As demand grew, Smith expanded into meat processing, eventually perfecting the sausage recipe that helped establish the store's reputation. His son, Bruce Smith, who began helping in the store at just 10 years old, later purchased the business in 1985 and continued building on his father's legacy.
Today, with the third generation of the Smith family involved, Smith's Red & White continues to preserve the traditions that made it successful while expanding its presence in the community through its restaurant and Smith's Pavilion of Dortches.
What makes Smith's Red & White especially remarkable is how much has remained the same. While the business has expanded over the decades, the Smith family continues to prepare its signature products on-site, preserving the recipes, traditions, and personal connections that have kept generations of customers coming back.
From its humble beginnings to becoming a destination for customers throughout the region, the history of Smith's Red & White is a reminder of the lasting impact of locally owned businesses and the importance of preserving our community's heritage.
Discover the full story of the Smith family, the growth of their business, and the traditions that have made Smith's Red & White an Eastern North Carolina institution in the Fall 2026 edition of Tar River Art + Culture Magazine.
We also want to give a BIG thank you to the advertisers who helped make this edition possible:
Read the full story of Smith’s Red and White in Fall TRA+C →
