In 1992, Steve Roop started a bottle redemption business on Sabattus Street in Lewiston that eventually grew to six beverage and redemption stores throughout Lewiston and Auburn with the most recent store opening a few years back in Oxford.  Steve Roop passed away on Tuesday at the age of 36.

If you live in the Lewiston/Auburn area, Roopers is the place to go for just about everything. With a large selection of wine, liquor, and beer. If you needed it, they had it. And if they didn't, they could order it for you.

A post on Roopers Beverage and Redemption's Facebook page announced the passing of Steve Roop saying "Steve has shown so much compassion to us over the years. There are no words that can adequately describe the impact that he has had on this world or that can express the true goodness of his character. He was a man who cherished people, and he cared deeply about the community, his family, customers, and his staff at Roopers. He lived a blessed life and practiced gratitude every day. Anyone who knew him was a better person for it."

For the 30th anniversary of Roopers, the staff had a video made that tells the story of how Roop went from a small little redemption business on Sabattus street to six stores and a wholesale business throughout Maine.

"I started this business 30 years ago in that redemp," Roop says in the video. "I wouldn't be here without my customers or my staff. But the customers, I love ya. Thank you for coming and shopping Roopers and being part of my world for the last 30 years man. You have no idea how much that means to me.

The family said it best in their post on the Roopers Facebook page. "Steve will live on in the hearts of all who loved him, and his legacy will be cherished and carried on here at Roopers."

Our condolences to the Roop family and to all the Roopers customers who called Steve a friend.

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