ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – To take a small sandwich trailer, originally purchased for occasional fair and carnival use, and make it into a full-time business is something. To take that business and move it down the road to a full scale restaurant is really something.

That's what the father and son team of Russell and Ed Johnson have done. Their sandwich trailer, GooRoo's generated enough business to warrant moving from the trailer to a restaurant building on Highway 59 last week.

Neither man thought they'd become full-time restauranteurs.

“It was really a matter of necessity,” said Russell. “We bought the trailer planning to do special events, and then the economy fell out.”

Russell had been a painting contractor, cultivating a list of clients from 1986 to 2009.

“I really enjoyed meeting people,” said Russell.

Ed, Russell's son, earned a degree in Human Relations Management from Troy University. He had worked for a company and his father said he had a good future there. But, he chose to join his father when they decided to open GooRoo's full-time.

GooRoo's also has Stephanie, Ed's wife and Sondra, Russell's wife working in the business.

“Sondra worked with me in the painting business,” said Russell. He added that she works part-time now, watching over a granddaughter the rest of the time.

So, as both Johnson men are cooks in the restaurant, what do they do best?

“It goes according to whether or not I am in a hurry,” laughed Ed. “I'd say it was the “Philly.” GooRoo's Philly sandwich is a concoction of cheese, meat peppers and other good things, and is one of the signature dishes.

Russell says hamburgers are his specialty.

“That was my thing (before the restaurant), chuckled Russell. “I used to make my wife so mad; there would be grease everywhere.”

Opening a restaurant was one way to save the marriage. And it suited Russell's nature.

“I always found it hard working for someone else,” said Russell. He added that his son “makes a good partner.”

Both men said that Robertsdale had been a good location for them, and the city and its residents had adopted them.

“We have people who come here three, four times a week,” said Russell.