Bailes-Cobb Celebrates 85 Years on the Square in Hartwell

They’re the last of a dying breed and now family department store Bailes- Cobb in Hartwell is celebrating its 85^th anniversary with a month of special offers and events. 

The small department store on the square was opened in 1929 by Joe Cobb, the grandfather of current owner Earl Johnson and his wife Mary Lyn.

  “He had been in the retail business since the early 1900’s,” said Earl Johnson. “Then he had a wholesale business where she sold overalls. Then he formed another company with another gentleman called Brown & Cobb and they were in business for ten years. Then he formed a partnership with George Bailes out of Anderson, SC and they opened this store in 1929 and called it Bailes-Cobb and that’s where the name comes from.”

For the past 85 years the store has been known for its quality line of goods as well as its quality customer service, something rarely seen in modern day department stores.

But Bailes-Cobb has seen lots of changes since it opened 85 years ago, such as the rise of big box discount stores like Wal-mart and K-mart.   Mary Lyn Johnson says even though there’s some competition from those types of stores, Bailes Cobb has survived by creating its own niche.

“When Wal-mart came to Hartwell, we had to change our whole philosophy,” she said. “Wal-mart can beat us on prices but not on quality and customer service. So, we decided to no longer sell women’s lingerie and children’s clothes because Wal-mart can beat us on those prices. But we actually decided to improve our quality and our customer service a little bit.” 

Part of that quality includes upgrades of name products, custom suit tailoring, and offering special order service.

All this month, Mary Lyn says the store will be celebrating its years in Hartwell by offering a number of special events.

“All during the month of May I will have trunk shows,” she said. “Our vendors are providing me with special merchandise or they’re coming or giving me things to give away.” 

Next week Mary Lyn said is Brighton week.

“We’re going to have a girls after hours trunk show from 6p to 8p with our reps,” she said. “We’re also going to have an Allegreto show, which is a shoe line we carry and we’re going to have a Liverpool Jeans show. We will have things going on all month long.”

And on Memorial Day weekend, Bailes Cobb will also be hosting a sidewalk cook out. 

“There will be hot dogs and beverages, as well as sales going on inside,” said Mary Lyn. “It’s just our way of saying thank you to the community for their years of support.”

You can hear more about Bailes-Cobb and their history this Sunday on Community Forum, heard at noon here on 92.1.