Story and Photos By Ken HulseyIt’s amazing how certain places from our past can linger in our memories. Lately, I’ve found myself reminiscing about my time in the small farming town of Vernon, Texas, from 1974 to 1978. One landmark that really stands out is the Gibson's department store, located just off the Highway 287 frontage road. For those of you who may not remember, this was back before Walmart and Target took over the scene, and Gibson's was a treasure trove of goodies like clothes, hardware, household items, and toys.
Oh, the toy department! As a kid between the ages of six and ten, I wasn't too interested in clothes or kitchen wares, though my mom did manage to find my school clothes there. But the toys? That's where my heart was! I was absolutely obsessed with trains (let’s be honest, I still am), and Gibson's had an amazing selection of Tyco model train sets, locomotives, and accessories. I can proudly say that I still have many of those train sets today, and I’m even planning to get a nice display case for them.
About fifteen years ago, I happened to pass through Vernon and was thrilled to see the building still standing, despite having been abandoned eight years prior. The giant arrow sign was still there, a reminder of the good times. I wished so much that the store was still open, just so I could step inside and relive a few more moments of my childhood. It was sad to read recently that the city of Vernon demolished the building a few years back. I guess I was lucky to have seen it one last time.
It's interesting to learn that Herbert R. Gibson and his wife, Belva, started Gibson Products Co., a wholesale novelty company, back in 1936 in Abilene, Texas. By the late '50s, they pivoted to discount retail, opening the first Gibson's Discount Center in Abilene in 1960. The company grew primarily through franchising, and it’s a fun fact that Sam Walton even inquired about a Gibson's franchise at one point, though that never materialized. By 1964, there were already 138 Gibson's stores generating $190 million in revenue, and by 1968, that number had ballooned to 434 stores bringing in $1 billion in sales!
Today, it’s comforting to know that a couple of Gibson's locations still operate, one in Kerrville and another in Weatherford, Texas. I think I’ll need to track those down and experience a bit of that nostalgia for myself soon!
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