Small business, large business, and non-business folks frequently attend. There are no dues or membership fees. Even before the 1860's when Derita was still mostly huge
family farms, there was a row of small stores and businesses
scattered down Derita Rd., an unpaved dirt single lane that
would later be known as North Graham St and as West Sugar
Creek Rd. With downtown Charlotte a good morning's ride
away, this is where the local folks came to shop and trade. Local businesses took their turn at filling potholes in the dirt
road, donated funds to erect the first area school, they distri-
buted the mail long before postal routes were established,
and they bartered clothing, seed, fertilizer and canned goods
for locally grown crops. A century later they were still at it,
installing local street lights and supporting the Volunteer Fire
Dept. Local Businesses were supporters of the Derita-Statesville
Road Community Organization, when the community fought
annexation in the 1970's and they have been generous partners
in many ot the projects launched by the Churches. So it was
no surprise when they organized an Association of their own in
2004. With the economy starting its slide downhill, DBA decided to
shore up the local market by reminding folks that it costs less,
is more convenient, and thatresidents get faster service when
you shop closer to home.
