ZIP CITY – Barbara Keeton might not characterize herself like this. But here goes… Barbara Keeton is a fixture in the town of Zip City. This gal was an entrepreneur back in the ’60’s, back in the day when relatively few women held that moniker. And she’s still making news!
Barbara has been working with Robert Walker for a few years now. In fact there’s a new P&K, business is so strong. They’re always coming up with new ways to say, “Thank You”, to their patrons of these many years.
Robert had the Quad-Cities Daily out the other day and we took some pictures for a special project that P&K has initiated. and everybody had their picture taken… Robert, Barbara, Kacey Pickens and Sarah Walker…
“It was a perfect fit for Barbra Keeton to sell western wear and such because that is what she and others in Zip City were all about. She opened up on Chisolm Road in 1966. Many of her friends and associates, loved the same things she did: Horse Shows; Music; A good story… And the fellowship enjoyed of spending quality time with working class country folks.
Well, the store caught on! And as it built a good reputation for quality and service, more items were added. Sometimes folks don’t recall that, back in the early ’60’s city folks didn’t wear jeans, (or as the pants were called, “dungarees”). Barbara began to carry Levi brand and Wrangler jeans, Justin Boots, then Dan Post and so on. Then the Jean craze caught on. Well, the only place in Lauderdale county to get Western cloths or Jeans was Zip City. At the store we hear so many stories of how young folks would come in with their mon or dad and get them some Levi Jeans. Barbara carried all styles and colors and they sold like wildfire! P&K had a layaway program and many folks used it. That was the only way they could afford some things, and there weren’t credit cards. After that original faze slowed down, well… the Urban Cowboy sensation came about and it was all about music and Hats and Boots. Music was played every Saturday night in front of the store. Folks who were headed up to the clubs in Tennessee could zip up through Zip City to have a cold one at the bar and stop on the way for a few tunes and some boots.
At one time 14 folks worked at the store and they were busy! Zip City was sure enough the place to be. Now things have slowed down a bit but Zip City is a happy little community with a lot of pride. The Zip City Volunteer Fire Department and Neighborhood Watch are great examples for the entire State of Alabama. And we enjoy making new memories with the grandchildren of those Sixties teens and friends. No… We are not as busy as we were, but we’re steady and looking forward to many more years to serve the folks in our beautiful community. If you have a P&K Memory come share it with us. Jot it down if you like and we will share it and enter it in the contest to win a new pair of Boots, just for old times sake.” – Robert
3 comments
Way too many memories and stories to count!!! From my birth in 1980 up until around 2008, it wasn’t just the local store/hangout, it was most importantly Granny & Papaw’s house, and also my home for a while before part of the old building burnt. This is somewhere that will always be a part of me, my family, our history, and where many of the happiest times of my life were spent!!! My heart was completely broken after losing so much due to the fire, and not being able to restore it ourselves. I will be forever grateful for Mr. Robert Walker, who came in one day to buy a new shirt and left with a business proposal to restore it and rebuild not only the building, but the business, and the heart of our small community. We could not have asked for a better person to come in and help us save what my grandparents had devoted their lives to, and he has done such an outstanding job with it! I would love for everyone to stop by and visit Granny, who is still there five days a week, and I know she will be thrilled to see everyone, both old customers and new!! It is a place that will forever hold a huge piece of my heart!! 💜💜💜
~~Carrie Keeton~~
Great people at P&K. Always friendlyand willing to go out of their way to help you out. Even though I wasnt buying a pair of boots they gave me a ride home when my old car broke down in their parking lot. That is an example of of the kind of love and sense of family that someone will receive from dealing with a family owned business. They LITERALLY go out of the extra mile for their customers! !
Edit:” LITERALLY go the extra mile for their customers”