How Buster ’ s Became a
by KYLE SWARTZ
The beverage alcohol retail is strengthened by the success of multigenerational businesses . Look no further than Memphis , TN . With two locations in the Home of the Blues , Buster ' s Liquors & Wines is now run by its third generation , represented by brothers and co-owners , Josh and Morgan Hammond .
Buster ' s celebrated 70 years of business in 2024 . Like many multigenerational stores in the alcohol industry , this Memphis landmark has roots in grocery .
In the 1950s , Josh and Morgan ’ s grandfather Romulus Morgan Hammond Jr ., nicknamed “ Buster ,” opened a series of grocery stores with his business partner , Tom Kirk . Combining their last names , Hamkirk Groceries proved successful , and still exist today . Hamkirk was the first grocery store in the area that opened on Sundays . This then-novel business strategy caught the eye of the nearby , pioneering supermarket chain Piggy Wiggly , which first opened in Memphis in 1916 .
Not all business relationships last . Despite their success , Buster and Kirk decided to dissolve their partnership in the mid 1950s . A flip of the coin decided who got to keep Hamkirk and who was bought out . Buster lost this historically significant 50 / 50 .
One door closes , another opens . Soon after the dissolution , Buster had the chance to open a liquor store next door to a Hamkirk . Saying “ yes ” to this opportunity , he officially launched Buster ' s Liquors on South Bellevue in downtown Memphis in the spring of 1954 .
Known for his big personality ( which has undoubtedly passed down through the generations ), Buster hung a ship ’ s bell outside his store and would loudly ring it to announce each day ’ s first sale . This boldness jibed with downtown Memphis at the time , during the heyday of Motown , with Isaac Hayes driving by in his big Cadillac . Buster ' s thrived , attracting loyal locals , as well as tourists who popped in during visits to the city from neighboring states . To this day , Buster ’ s remains a popular stop for out-ofstate travelers .
In 1966 , Buster ’ s son R . M . “ Rommy ” Hammond III opened his own store in downtown Memphis . Named Sterick Liquors for the building it occupied , this unfortunately proved a short-lived venture . The shocking assassination of Martin Luther King at a hotel just a mile south in 1968 sent the downtown area into swift decline .
Father and son soon headed to the city ’ s growing suburbs . Two stores opened up , including at Buster ’ s current location of South Highland St . near the University of Memphis .
Rommy took over the family business in 1970 . His father , the namesake founder , lived until 2007 , when Buster passed away at the age of 97 , leaving behind a remarkable legacy of local business .
What ’ s it like working for a company that boasts such a rich family history and tradition ? “ It ’ s good , if you like what you are doing ,” says third-generation co-owner Morgan . “ I ’ ve been doing this for forty years , and I look forward to getting up and doing work , every day .”
BUSTER ’ S TODAY
The Buster ’ s location at South Highland St . first opened with 800 square feet . Today , this site has expanded to accommodate 16,000 square feet — an accomplishment
10 Beverage Dynamics • Spring 2025 www . beveragedynamics . com