The Edmond Sun

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October 9, 2009

McCall’s owner returns to roots

KATHY TOPPINS

EDMOND — Store will focus again on boy’s, men’s clothing



BY KATHY TOPPINS

THE EDMOND SUN



Steve Gibson bought McCall’s about years ago from his father, Hoot, who opened the store in 1953 at 21 S. Broadway.

At its inception, McCall’s was strictly a men’s store in the exact space where the store is now. A few years later, some of the men’s lines started making tailored women’s wear and Gibson’s dad decided to expand.

More than half a century later, McCall’s is closing its women’s and children’s departments to focus on their men’s and boys’ business. “Our strength has always been our men’s business,” Steve Gibson said. “We’ve been successfully dressing men for 56 years.”

Starting at age 14, Steve Gibson worked at the fine clothing store during summers and vacations. He was born in the second-floor hospital at the north end of the block, above what is now Othello’s Italian Restaurant. “I’ve been on this block basically all my life,” Gibson said.

As a young man, he ventured from his roots for a short time. After graduating from Edmond High School in 1971, Gibson left Edmond to attend the University of Oklahoma, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in math education.

Although his dad has a Master’s degree in retailing,Gibson said, “he told me I can learn more about business by doing it than studying it.” The purpose of the degree, Gibson explained, was to keep his options open. “Business is a gamble, every day,” he said.

The young Gibson didn’t plan on buying McCalls. Since eighth-grade, Gibson preferred playing a guitar in a band. Remembering his long hair from high school and college days, Gibson said, “I didnt fit into the traditional clothing store mold whatsoever.”

When fantasy and reality collided, Gibson said, “I finally figured it out.” Gibson worked at McCall’s as well as stores in Dallas and Kansas City to get outside experience.

Gibson said he has never been tempted to leave Edmond.

“There aren’t very many places like Edmond. It’s an awfully nice place to live. When I grew up, Edmond was just a small town. There really wasn’t much for young people. A lot of people did move away.”

By the mid-seventies, though, Edmond started growing and offered more opportunities.

Gibson said he has enjoyed owning a small business for “the variety of people I meet and do business with. I’ve made a lot of friends.”

Beaux McGlothlin started in sales for McCall’s in April 1993.

“They are a great family to work for,” McGlothlin said. “They consider me part of the family, and I consider them part of mine. Steve and I both have our own opinions, but we’ve never had a disagreement.”

The biggest challenge to running his business, Gibson said, is “the dressing down and casualization of our times.” The biggest challenge to running any small business, he said, is competing with big stores and the Internet.



ktoppins@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 112

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