“People have to eat.” That’s the phrase Phillip Gipson grew up hearing from his father. As the owners of Gipson Grocery in Dallas, the family knew the importance of being in the food business as well as being a Black-owned store in a Black community.
The store, currently located in West Dallas, is one of the longest-running Black-owned groceries in the nation. It opened its first doors over 60 years ago, in 1956. At one point, Gipson Grocery had four locations. Now down to one, they are looking to expand, particularly in the southern sector, creating better food access and cementing their legacy.
Through decades of ups and downs, Gipson is determined to continue empowering people in the community.
Phillip’s father, H.B. Gipson, founded the store with his brother, B.G. Gipson. Both are now deceased, and Phillip runs the store with his wife, Jonnie Gipson.
The store temporarily closed when Gipson’s uncle got sick about 10 years ago. Phillip reopened the store in 2019, and it now houses many businesses under one roof. In addition to the grocery and deli, the Gipsons are financial advisors and insurance agents, and they run a nonprofit that provides the community with free food every other Saturday.
The grocery, which Jonnie finds the goods for, is so meticulously curated that referring to it as simply a corner store would be a disservice. It offers everything from light bulbs and school supplies to quinoa and vegetables.
“I’m looking at it from a perspective of a woman cooking — cooking healthy meals for a family,” Jonnie says. “My dad was a chef, so we cooked a lot.
“We have a lot of diversity in our neighborhood,” she continues. “We have people that are vegan and vegetarian. I try to have something for everybody. I try and get what I think our people would want.”
As they eye further growth, they see their role as beyond just food.
“We want to offer them the same benefits and services,” Phillip says. “Something that can house an umbrella of services for the community and get them empowered with knowledge and give them some type of opportunity to work.
“You have to work in order to take care of your family,” he continues.
Over the years, West Dallas has seen a great deal of changes and development, but — like many parts of D-FW — Black-owned businesses are still few and far between, especially neighborhood anchors like grocery stores. For Gipson, the development in the area is welcomed, but investment in the community that is already there is a must, he says.
“It’s imperative that money flows within the community,” he says, “not just someone from outside the community coming and buying grocery stores and taking the money and investing it somewhere else. That’s negative for our community.
“It’s really important to have someone that looks like you where you’re spending your money,” he adds. “Businesses in the Black community are the life of the community. If we don’t own the businesses, we don’t have anything.”
Gipson Grocery is located at 1701 Shaw Street, Dallas. Facebook: GipsonBusinesses.
