The Rosco tearooms, with their rosewood pannelled walls and columns, was one of the most elegant eating places in Palmerston North. It was also hired out for functions. Tearoom staff in uniform, from left: Grace Dempsey; Meryle Anderson; Prudence Phillips; Gladys Wischnowski; Pam Blane; Sylvia Matson; Valerie Dempsey (later Ackerman). C M Ross Co. Ltd was one of the foremost department stores of Palmerston North and operated in The Square from 1883 until it was sold to Milne and Choyce in 1959.