Economic impact
Founded the Roberts Cab Company in Chicago in 1947 with a fleet of 50 taxis, later building Roberts Motels beginning in 1960. The motel chain grew to include six locations on Chicago's South Side, with the flagship Motel 500 on 63rd Street containing 128 rooms and a grand ballroom, per Chicago Defender historical accounts. The motels provided accommodations for Black travelers during the segregation era and hosted civil rights meetings.