Frank J. Gerbes, founder of Gerbes Super Markets, Inc., started in business in 1933 in the Bane Mercantile Building In 1942 Gerbes Market built and moved into the building which now houses the Western Auto Store.

In 1954 the Gerbes built a new building into which they moved the super market along with a dry goods department and office facilities.

In 1959 a profit sharing and pension trust plan was introduced to all employees by Mr. and Mrs. Gerbes, which was the first in Central Missouri.

In 1966 the Gerbes agreed to merge with J.S. Dillon and Sons Stores, Inc. of Kansas. There are Gerbes Super Markets in eight other central Missouri cities.

In 1967 the Gerbes built a new super market at its present location on the northwest corner of Moniteau and Moreau streets. The Ben Franklin Store was housed in the former location and the office facilities were moved to 128 Moniteau Street in downtown Tipton.

Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Muenks started Stop & Shop Grocery Store in January 1949 in the present Coast-to-Coast loca­tion on Moniteau Street. In 1962 the store moved to its present location, on the corner of Osage and Moniteau. The Muenks retired in January 1976, selling the store to the current owners, Mr. and Mrs. John Hayes.

Hecht's Drug Store is owned by Vincent "Skipper" Hecht. He pur­chased the business in 1947 from Collins Drug Store after working there for 13 years. The original business was opened shortly after 1900 by Gideon Houser and John Schwickrath. It was known as the H & S Rexall Drug Store. Hecht's Drug Store sells prescription and non-prescription drugs, drug sun­dries, and veterinary supplies. It has fountain service.

Tipton Rexall Drugs is owned by William H. Dinwiddie. He purchased the business in 1960 from W.W. Wisdom, Jr. Mr. Dinwiddie began the Rexall affiliation at that time.

Mr. Wisdom purchased the business in 1939 from Lloyd Reynolds. At that time the drug store was located on the south side of Moniteau Street.

Hecht's Drug Store and Tipton Rexall Drugs face each other on Moniteau Street.

The Tipton Style Shop was established by Gladys Nash in 1939 or 1940 in its present location. Montie and Clay Howard have operated the business since purchasing it from Gladys Nash Worley in 1953.

The Tipton Style Shop features ladies ready-to-wear, infants and little girls' clothes, as well as costume jewelry and gifts.

The building is on lot number 21 which was granted to William Tipton Seely on September 1, 1851. Other owners of the building have been Mann, Leessing, Gigas, John Smith, Brock, and Nash. The Howards purchased the building in February 1963.

Collier's Fashion Shop opened March 5, 1961, in a building on the south side of Moniteau Street. In January 1964 the shop was moved to its present location next to the City Hall after the building was vacated by the post office. In April 1969, Mrs. Eva Collier sold the business to Mrs. Arlene Marcum and Lela Carruthers. The name was changed to Le-Mar Fashion Shop. Since the death of Lela Carruthers in February 1970, the business has been owned and managed by Arlene Marcum. All types of womens' ready-to-wear are offered as well as costume jewelry.

In March 1934, Mr. V.0. Carter and his sister, Helen, bought the Mendenhall Grocery Store in Tipton which was located in the west half of what is now Bixlers.

Lloyd and Lucille Carter managed the general merchandise store until 1949 except while Lloyd was in the service during World War II.

In 1949 Lloyd and John bought the store from their father and continued operating it until 1956 when Lloyd and Lucille bought the dry goods, clothing, and shoes and moved to the building that had been vacated by the Farmers' Bank. John continued to operate the grocery store until 1965.

In 1966 Carter's Store expanded to the building on the west which had been vacated by Hurt's Plumbing and many, many years ago had been the Gus Dueber furniture store.

In 1967 when their son, Donald, returned from service, they opened a store in Versailles.

Dala's Bridal Boutique, Inc., opened August 2, 1971, in a new building located one block north of Highway 5 and 50 junction. At this time it was a small business consisting of 25 bridal gowns, six bridesmaid dresses, and 10 mother of the bride dresses.

Since then Dala's Bridal Boutique has enlarged its building to twice its size consisting of over 250 bridal gowns, approximately 50 bridesmaid dresses and a large selection of mother of the bride dresses, evening wear, lingerie, invitations, napkins, bridal acces­sories, and gifts.

Dala's has expanded her services from Mid-Missouri to attiring bridal parties in three countries and 14 states.

The Tipton Slack Outlet opened July 17, 1972. It is a factory outlet store for first-quality over-runs and irregulars. Besides men's slacks, they sell dress suits, leisure suits, leisure jackets, and sports jackets.

The store, located above the Tipton Manufacturing Company on the corner of Moniteau Street and Moreau Avenue is owned by the Biltwell Company. Co-managers are Louise Ebert and June Nivens.

Coast-to-Coast Store was opened on June 25, 1969 by Monroe and Monta Uptergrove. It is located on West Moniteau Street. Besides hardware, they sell gifts, house wares and sporting goods.

Western Auto, a long established Tipton business, was purchased in August 1972 by Mr. and Mrs. Gene Green. Previous owners included Mr. and Mrs. Hank Hardy and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Helms. In 1975, the Greens' older son, Steve, joined them as service manager. Prior to purchasing Western Auto, Gene Green had been in the insurance business for 16 years in St. Louis.

Mortenson Hardware was opened in 1973 by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mortenson. It is located in the Tipton Plaza near the Highway 5 and 50 intersection. The store size was expand­ed in January, 1976. They carry a hardware line.

Lachner and Edwards Electric was established November 1, 1945, by Tom Lachner and Gene Edwards. On May 1, 1946 Gene Edwards purchased controlling interest from Tom Lachner who went into farming. Arch Edwards was part owner until this death in March, 1956.

In January, 1966 Norbert and John Wirths purchased the business and changed the name to Wirths Electric.

In October 1973 Tom Edwards purchased the appliance business and changed the name to Edwards Appliance. Electrical appliances as well as wiring and plumbing supplies are sold.

Edward Duber operated a hardware store in Tipton until his death in 1901. Peter Claas, his stepson, took over and operated the business until selling it to Leonard Bestgen and John Dueber in 1929. In 1944 Mr. Dueber purchased the building where Latham's Appliance is presently located and operated Dueber Appliance. In 1950 the name was changed to Bestgen and Dueber Appliance when N.L. Bestgen became a partner.

Emil Rombach and John Latham purchased the business June 18, 1951 and changed the name to Rombach and Latham Appliance. In the fall of 1959, Mr. Latham bought Rombach's share and the store became Latham Appliance Center.

Latham's sells major appliances and service the products they sell.

Dan and Betty Bixler sold their cafe in Versailles and bought the Ed Dueber Grocery in Tipton in 1931. Bill Bixler joined the firm shortly thereafter. With the advent of electricity in rural area and the birth of "bottled gas" cooking and refrigeration, the Bixlers decided that selling ranges and refrigerators would go hand-in-hand with the sale of groceries. They also began delivering gas to rural homes at this time. In the early 1940's groceries were discontin­ued. Aubrey Bixler joined the Bixler Gas Company in 1952 and took over the business in 1964. David Bixler joined the family business in 1972.

Bixlers serve approximately 2,500 gas customers in Central Missouri. They retail major home appliances, heating and air conditioning equipment and floor covering. They also operate stores in Otterville and California.

The Tipton Ben Franklin Store is located on the corner of Moniteau and Short Streets. It is a variety store which carries dry goods, notions, health and beauty aids, stationery, greeting cards, house wares, infants wear, casual shoes and many items too numerous to list. On June 14, 1976, Bill and Sue Combs assumed ownership. They purchased the business from Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jobe. Other owners, from most recent to earliest, were Gerbes, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. O.W. Kinnear, Stanley and Lero Ferguson, and Vincent Hecht. The Kinnears began the Ben Franklin affiliation after purchasing the Ferguson Variety Store.

Sears Authorized Catalog Sales was opened May 25, 1972 by the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. Don Hofstetter. The business, located at 148 W. Moniteau, employs three people as sales clerks and have three men servicing its products.

The flower shop began its operation downtown in a building formerly occupied by a drug store and dress shop. It was purchased by Chuck and Betty Shuppert from Louise Kappelman and Maxine Vaught on February 9, 1967.

On the first day of business as Chuck's Florist, the total sales for the day were $21. This soon changed as Valentine's Day approached. The business survived and has grown.

Chuck's is involved in most areas of the retail floral industry, including affiliation with four wire services, but specializes in weddings.

The founder of Proctors Building Materials, J.R. Proctor, started in the lumber business January 1, 1896 at Olean, Missouri.

In April, 1942, he and his son, E.R. Proctor, purchased the D.C. Hardy lumberyard at Tipton, Missouri.

In 1950 J.R. Proctor sold his half interest to his grandson, J.W. Proctor.

In January 1961 J.W. Proctor bought his father's half interest, making him sole owner. By this time the firm had bought the former Hainen Motor Co. building and the Schmidt Lumber Co. thus expanding the original lumberyard over three times to its present size. It is located on Moreau Avenue.

One of Tipton's oldest businesses is a furniture store started in 1908 by Gus Dueber. Cary Stonner, along with his father, Nelson, as an assistant, is in his fifth year as owner. Previous owners in succession after Mr. Dueber were:

Henry Wermelskirchen, Fred Imhoff, ­Joe Kuttenkuler, Longan-Dearing, Jim Dearing, Toby Lademann, Caine Brothers and Joe Scott.

Stonner Furniture sells home accessories as well as furniture and floor coverings.

K & T Auto Parts, Inc., is a wholesale and retail store for auto parts, owned by Herbert Bush and Terry Carver. Mr. Bush purchased the store formerly known as Knipp Motor Parts in Sept. 1974.

There is a second store in California, Missouri. The home office and first store of Mr. Bush is still located in Camdenton, Missouri.

Wolf's Auto Parts is owned by Raymond "Doc" Wolf. It is located on the northeast corner at the Highways 5 & 50 intersection. The business was started in 1973 and moved to its present location with Wolf's Texaco in February 1976.

Henry Bell began the Package Liquor Store 5 & 50. He sold the business to Terry Cornett, who sold to the present owner, John Dearing in October, 1974. Mr. Dearing had retired from the U.S. Air Force earlier this year.

5 & 50 sells package liquors, fishing tackle, and related items. The store is located on Highway 50 near the intersection of Highways 5 and 50.

Tom's Liquors, on the corner of Highway 50 West and Independence Avenue, is owned by Thomas R. Wolf. He purchased the business from Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bond in June, 1976. Tom's sells package liquors and confectionary items.

The business was previously known as Tally-Ho Liquors, and as Eight Ball Liquor.

Redfield Antiques is owned by Alden and Judy Redfield. The business was started in 1975 and is located in the Hotel Tipton. They buy and sell antiques.

Robert E. Miller, owner and distributor of Miller's Quality Chekd Dairy Products, introduced this line of dairy products into the Tipton area in December, 1971. The dairy itself is located in Springfield, Missouri.

Miller provides delivery service to restaurants, schools, stores, institu­tions and homes in the Moniteau County area. 

Irene Gerke Ceramics, which began in 1966, grew out of a need for a workshop in this area. She now carries a variety of greenware, supplies and gift items. She also wholesales greenware to other dealers.  

The business is located at 225 Morgan Street.