Irving Gibbs
Dublin Core
Title
Irving Gibbs
Alternative Title
Irving Gibbs
Subject
Orlando (Fla.)
Clothing and dress--United States
Fashion--Florida
Description
Irvin Gibbs, the founder of Gibbs-Louis, Inc. Getting his start in his father's general store in Live Oak, Florida, Gibbs was a well-known man of fashion in Downtown Orlando, Florida. In 1935, he graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in business. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a lieutenant commander, he arrived in Orlando where he bought the women's store, Louis, in 1946. He added Gibbs to the store name, expanded the inventory, and Gibbs-Louis was created.
Gibbs-Louis quickly became one of the most popular women's apparel stores in Downtown Orlando in the 1940s and 1950s. Along with the downtown location at 131 North Orange Avenue, there were three more Gibbs-Louis stores in nearby malls. In 1984, part of the downtown store collapsed; a wall caved in due to construction of a 20-story building next door. A year later, the store was restored. In 1990, when nearly all retail stores located in Downtown Orlando had closed, Gibbs-Louis was one of the few remaining. In late 1991, Irving Gibbs retired and sold the business to former executives of Ivey's, a department store that was later bought out by Dillard's. Only a year later, Gibbs-Louis went out of business and was replaced by Behr's Shoe Center. In 1998, Behr's closed as well. Today, the location is home to Annie's Bar and Grill.
Gibbs-Louis quickly became one of the most popular women's apparel stores in Downtown Orlando in the 1940s and 1950s. Along with the downtown location at 131 North Orange Avenue, there were three more Gibbs-Louis stores in nearby malls. In 1984, part of the downtown store collapsed; a wall caved in due to construction of a 20-story building next door. A year later, the store was restored. In 1990, when nearly all retail stores located in Downtown Orlando had closed, Gibbs-Louis was one of the few remaining. In late 1991, Irving Gibbs retired and sold the business to former executives of Ivey's, a department store that was later bought out by Dillard's. Only a year later, Gibbs-Louis went out of business and was replaced by Behr's Shoe Center. In 1998, Behr's closed as well. Today, the location is home to Annie's Bar and Grill.
Source
Original color photograph: Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Date Created
ca. 1945-1991
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original color photograph.
Is Part Of
Orlando Remembered Exhibit, Regions Bank, Orlando, Florida.
Orlando Remembered Collection, Orlando Collection, Orange County Collection. RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
102 KB
Medium
1 color photograph
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Downtown Orlando, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Economics Teacher
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by the Orange County Regional History Center and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Curator
Williams, Rachel
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
Orlando Remembered
External Reference
Suris, Oscar. "Ex-ivey's Execs Buy Gibbs-Louis Owners Don't Plan To Change Stores' Upscale Clientele Base." The Orlando Sentinel, January 5, 1991, Business Section. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-01-05/business/9101050396_1_new-stores-ivey-wiley.
"Gibbs-Louis Store Restored." The Orlando Sentinel, November 4, 1985. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-04/business/0340220272_1_gibbs-south-wall-collapse.
Feigenbaum, Nancy. "Longtime Retailer May Take Space At Gibbs-Louis." The Orlando Sentinel, July 3, 1992. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-07-03/business/9207030381_1_behr-shoe-center-downtown-store.
Feigenbaum, Nancy. "Gibbs-Louis Will Ask To Liquidate." The Orlando Sentinel, August 19, 1992. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-08-19/business/9208190291_1_gibbs-bankruptcy-liquidate.
Transcript
TRUNK SHOWING
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 color photograph
Collection
Citation
“Irving Gibbs,” RICHES, accessed April 26, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/4075.