Rosanna Tussey was one of the lucky ones. She was only 30 cars back waiting in a line that snaked clear around the block outside toilet paper manufacturer Roses Southwest Papers Inc., on Second SW, just south of Avenida Cesar Chavez.
“We got here at 5:30 a.m. and they started selling at 8 a.m., so it will be about three hours before we get in. They’re only letting four cars in at a time, but the good thing is you can only buy large boxes, so I won’t have to do this again for along time.”
Tussey said she lives in far Northwest Albuquerque and decided to try her luck at Roses Southwest Papers because “I”m almost out of toilet paper and we’re not seeing it restocked in the stores, at least not the ones I’ve gone to, and I’ve gone to quite a few.”
By 9:30 a.m., two more lines formed: one snaking east on Cesar Chavez, over the Guadalupe Overpass above the railroad tracks and then heading north (this has been corrected) on a side street to Iron SW; and a third line running west on Bridge Street, over the Rio Grande to La Vega SW.
Gibson Archer sales and marketing manager for Roses Southwest Papers, said the business, which has been operating for 35 years, primarily serves wholesale distributors but opens up to retail sales on a very limited basis. In view of the shortages of the last couple of week, the company has ramped up its production for local retail sales but is still limiting it to 1,000 boxes — and customers are limited to a purchase of two boxes.
But these are large boxes and there are two options: A box of 96 rolls, each with 400 sheets, for $35; and a box of 96 rolls, each with 500 sheets, for $45.
Retail sales are open Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and a second day may be added on Saturday.
For further information call Roses Southwest Paper at 842-0134, or go to rosesouthwestpapers.com.
