Photos and Story by: Ken Hulsey
Recently, I have been reminiscing about my time in the northern Texas farming town of Vernon from 1974 to 1978. One landmark that stands out in my mind is the Gibson's department store located just off the Highway 287 frontage road. Like many retail and five-and-dime stores of its time (pre-Walmart and Target for you younger folks), Gibson's offered a little bit of everything—clothes, hardware, household goods, and toys.
Of course, it’s the toy department that I remember the most vividly. I was between six and ten years old during my time in Vernon, so I wasn’t particularly interested in clothes or dishes, even though my mom did buy my school clothes there.
I recall shopping for toys there with great fondness. I was really into trains as a child (who am I kidding, I still am!), and Gibson's had a large selection of Tyco model train sets, locomotives, cars, and accessories. I can honestly say I still have many of those items today and plan to get a nice display case to showcase them.
Another highlight for me was the Star Wars toys; Gibson's was the first local store to carry them. I remember it vividly. The first figure I ever received was the Imperial Stormtrooper. I would play as if it had a jetpack and could fly around in my backyard. This was just the beginning of my collection—there were countless Star Wars items I would beg my mother to buy me.
Now, I just have to plead with my wife for them!
About fifteen years ago, I traveled through Vernon and was surprised to find that the building, which had been abandoned eight years earlier, was still standing, complete with its iconic giant arrow sign. It was a thrill to see the place again, but I would have given anything for it to still be open so I could relive some of my childhood memories.
Today, I was saddened to read that the city of Vernon demolished the building several years ago. I guess I was fortunate to have seen it one last time.
Herbert R. Gibson and his wife, Belva, opened Gibson Products Co., a wholesale novelty company, in 1936 in Abilene, Texas. By the late 1950s, Gibson had decided to refocus on discounting, and he opened the first Gibson's Discount Center in Abilene in 1960. The company grew mostly by franchising the store concept to others. Sam Walton once inquired about obtaining a Gibson's franchise, but nothing came of it. By 1964, there were 138 Gibson's Discount Center stores generating $190 million in revenue; by 1968, 434 stores were generating $1 billion in sales. The company's headquarters moved to Seagoville, Texas.
Here is some history:
In 1972, Gibson transferred ownership of the company to his sons Herbert Jr. and Gerald. By 1978, Gibson's had 684 stores across the United States. The company began to go into decline after that, in part because franchisees began to withdraw from the chain; the company's largest franchisee, Pamida Inc., began opening discount stores under its own name. Gibson's was sold in June 1984 to a company headed by Gary Chaffin. Chaffin sold the company in 1992, and it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996. Chaffin repurchased the company in 1999, which by this time was headquartered in Dodge City, Kansas. In November 2002, Gibson's announced it would close the chain's 17 remaining stores.
Two stores continue to operate independently under the Gibson's name, in Kerrville, Texas, and Weatherford, Texas.
It's nice to learn there are still a couple of Gibson stores out there ... I will have to seek those out one day soon!
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