Gibson's, Gibson's, I love to shop at Gibson's, Gibson's Discount Center.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Gibson's, Gibson's, I love to shop at Gibson's, Gibson's Discount Center.

Posted: 8/8/2014 10:20:25 AM EDT

It was probably the first "big box" or big discount store, "Where you always buy the best for less."

Before there was WalMart, there was Gibson's. It was a south, central US chain of about 500 stores that started in the late 50s. Still a few around.

In 1958 H. R. Gibson Sr. and his wife Belva founded the first Gibson Discount Center in Abilene, Texas. From this beginning emerged a chain of over 500 retail discount stores operating in 29 states, and several small corporations providing certain support or related services to the retail stores. The scions of the family, H. R. Gibson, Jr., and Gerald P. Gibson, were actively involved in the family business, each owning interests in several of the retail stores, and eventually receiving the ownership interest of their parents.

Anyone remember these?

http://www.greatbendpost.com/2011/10/05/memories-of-gibsons-discount-center-by-marty-keenan/

Posted: 8/8/2014 10:22:02 AM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 8/8/2014 10:23:00 AM EDT

[#2]

Going to Gibson's with my dad was the biggest thrill for me.

Posted: 8/8/2014 1:23:25 PM EDT

[#3]

Yep I remember going into one when I was a kid to get my Batman and Robin action figures signed by Adam West and his side kick. It turned out Adam West couldn't show so it was Robin and Batgirl but it was still enough for me to remember 30 something years later. I used to love going there with my family it meant the chance at a new toy.

Posted: 8/8/2014 1:24:34 PM EDT

[#4]

Yep, in the 70s and 80s the one here sold rifles and pistols.

Posted: 8/8/2014 1:24:56 PM EDT

[#5]

There is still one in Kerrville, Texas that has a pretty decent gun department.

Posted: 8/8/2014 1:38:26 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
There is still one in Kerrville, Texas that has a pretty decent gun department.

View Quote

The one in Weatherford has an awesome gun counter.

Posted: 8/8/2014 1:43:23 PM EDT

[#7]

Went to one in East Texas when I was a kid.

Posted: 8/8/2014 1:46:31 PM EDT

[#8]

Ours was a small one. Weren't nothing special. Closed sometime in the early 80's.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:11:20 PM EDT

[#9]

I cleaned out all of their .223 when ours (in Abilene) was closing in the early '80s. I didn't even own a AR-15 yet, but I knew I would someday!

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:12:59 PM EDT

[#10]

I go to the one in Kerrville, Texas occasionally, first 2 years we lived in this area it was the only place to buy reloading supplies other than Walmart.

ETA: The prices at the gun counter at the Gibsons here are full retard IMO unless things have changed, I know I went twice once for an M&P 9mm and again for a Glock 17, both times I got quoted full MSRP, I go elsewhere for guns.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:14:59 PM EDT

[#11]

my dad bought my first 22lr there

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:15:05 PM EDT

[#12]

50 years ago we would go to Gibson's in Louisville on saturday afternoons before going to GES to get groceries. My dad bought his first flat bottom boat at Gibson's, it even had the Gibson name on the side.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:16:30 PM EDT

[#13]

Dad bought me my first gun at the Gibson's in Albuquerque 1963-

Single shot Marlin .22. Think with tax it was around $30 out the door, and its first box of WW ammo was 24 cents.

The only stores I liked as much as Gibson's were Western Automotive and H. Cook Sporting goods.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:20:39 PM EDT

[#14]

I worked at the Liberal KS store my Jr Sr year in high school. It was a good time

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:26:45 PM EDT

[#15]

I think I still have a .22 that my dad bought at Gibson's in Cleburne, Tx. That was a looooong time ago.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:33:57 PM EDT

[#16]

I was thinking... WTF Gibson has a discount center that I've never heard of.

Of course not, this is not Gibson Guitars.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:43:25 PM EDT

[#17]

Yep had one here it was turned into a bowling alley now.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:50:50 PM EDT

[#18]

I used to drool at the gun counter at the Gibsons store in Ulysses, Ks.

My Dad bought more than one gun there.

Posted: 8/8/2014 2:52:58 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yep I remember going into one when I was a kid to get my Batman and Robin action figures signed by Adam West and his side kick. It turned out Adam West couldn't show so it was Robin and Batgirl but it was still enough for me to remember 30 something years later. I used to love going there with my family it meant the chance at a new toy.

View Quote

Mom bought me my first GI Joe back around 1966 at Gibsons.

LC

Posted: 8/8/2014 3:31:32 PM EDT

[#20]

when I wuz on active duty at Ft Hood (75-78), the store in Copperas Cove sold reloading stuff;
me & my buddy spent tons of kash there;

they had a ruger blackhawk .44 mag that had the cylinder split in half from a double charge of some powder hanging behind the counter,,,,

great store; we used to buy our gunz at pawn shops for almost nuttin,,,,,

Posted: 8/8/2014 3:41:41 PM EDT

[#21]

We had one here that I just barely remember. Had an awesome toy department. It turned into a Pamida, another discount chain, then closed maybe early 80's.

Did not realize they were still around.

Posted: 8/8/2014 4:02:58 PM EDT

[#22]

Yep, bought a Marlin Model 60 rifle and a Ruger Mark II pistol there years ago.

Also bought a socket set for $6.99 which I used to pull the ehads on a '67 GTO after a trip to Mexico that burned the valves. I still use that socket set over 45 years later.

Posted: 8/8/2014 4:05:12 PM EDT

[#23]

They sold reloads and I must have bought a bagillion of them before I started rolling my own.

Posted: 8/8/2014 4:07:01 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:

There is still one in Kerrville, Texas that has a pretty decent gun department.

View Quote

Everything is expensive as hell in there.

Posted: 8/8/2014 4:07:49 PM EDT

[#25]

Bought my first rifle at Gibson's when I was a kid. Marlin Model 60.

Posted: 8/8/2014 4:08:39 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:

I think I still have a .22 that my dad bought at Gibson's in Cleburne, Tx. That was a looooong time ago.

View Quote

yea that had to be a long time ago. Some of their old employees are my customers.

Posted: 8/8/2014 4:10:23 PM EDT

[#27]

I still have and use all of my uncle's RCBS reloading dies with Gibson's price tags on them. Still going strong after 40 years of use.

Posted: 8/8/2014 4:26:41 PM EDT

[#28]

Had this for years. 6 power USA made weaver rebrand.

Posted: 8/8/2014 5:16:47 PM EDT

[#29]

The first firearm I ever bought and paid for myself came from Gibson's in Clute, Texas. Paid it off on their lay-away program. Ruger 10/22 standard carbine with a rollmark on the barrel that read "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty" (1976). Sadly sold it long ago.......

SS

Posted: 8/8/2014 5:25:44 PM EDT

[#30]

One of the best Christmas memories of my childhood was going shopping for presents at Gibsons. It was 40 miles away, so it was a major logistics feat (4 kids and 2 adults in a Dodge Dart). Must have been in the early to mid '60s.

Posted: 8/8/2014 5:33:22 PM EDT

[#31]

Bought my first two guns at Gibsons. A Winchester 190 ($65?) and a Wingmaster ($135).

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Gibson's, Gibson's, I love to shop at Gibson's, Gibson's Discount Center.

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