Talk about family tradition! Jack’s Western Wear in Good Hope has been around since 1976, born out of one family business and growing into another – one with father, daughters, son-in-law and grandkids working side by side.
Founder Larry Allred was kind enough to share the history of Jack’s, lovingly recounting it to his daughter, Kristin Allred.
“I started with 35 pairs of boots. That was nearly 50 years ago — and now, we have more than 25,000,” he began.
“After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1969, I returned home to work in my family’s business, Jack’s Truck Stop and Cafe in Cullman. At the time, there was nothing Western about what my family did. You know, serving food and selling diesel and all that. But I felt there was more we could offer to Cullman. So I took out a loan and built a small store — just 1,000 square feet — on the north side of the truck stop. I stocked it with 35 pairs of boots, and fortunately, it took off.”
Larry said in the early days, he handled it all.
“I pumped gas, ran the restaurant and ran the store,” he recalled. “It was tough; the restaurant and service station alone were open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I eventually sold the cafe and focused on the Western store. We moved and expanded to 7,500 square feet.”
Jack’s has always been a family business.
Shared Larry, “I made sure my daughters, Sara and Kristin, spent their summers and after-school hours bussing tables and helping out in the store. I wanted them to learn the trade, knowing that it takes years of hard work and dedication to succeed, and also the importance of family.”
Larry was proud to talk about how his daughters are a big part of Jack’s, with Sara joining her dad in 2007 and Kris two years ago.
“In 2007, my oldest daughter, Sara, joined the store full time, bringing her retail experience that she had learned while working in Atlanta and Asheville. Then, in 2013, I made another big decision: I bought the land where my great-grandfather’s farm once stood — the same land where his house used to be — and we built a brand-new store from the ground up. That land means a lot to my family, and it felt right to keep the Allred roots growing strong there.
“Kristin, my youngest, joined us in 2023. Due to health reasons, she left the world of TV and now leads our marketing and e-commerce efforts. Because of her, we now have a website.
They say we’ve now shipped to all 50 states. She also runs our social media, though I’ll admit, I don’t understand much of that part.”
Larry also heaped praise on his son-in-law and grandchildren.
“Besides my daughters, my son-in-law has joined the team, too. He’s an accountant, and it has helped me relinquish some of the responsibility. But most of all, I get to see some of my grandchildren almost every day.
“Sara’s oldest, Andrue, can tell you everything you need to know about boots, from the fit to the type of animal skin they are made of. Her youngest, Jackson, is always rocking a cowboy hat, and whenever a new load of boots comes in, I can always rely on him to unload them. Kristin’s son, Eli, helps when he’s around, and last year, he formed a team to help us with our sponsorship for Rock the South. Her youngest, Carson, is just like her mom, always putting together outfits and asking me for another pair of pretty boots.”
Larry is proud, but he’s also quick to give thanks. And he has a big heart for giving back to the community that has given his family so much.
“I'm so proud of what Jack's has become. Never in a million years did I think we would become what we are today, to grow from a 1,000-square-foot business to 25,000 square feet. I'm humble, but I'm proud. For several years in a row, we've been voted ‘Best Place to Buy Boots,’ ‘Best Western Wear’ and ‘Best Place to Buy Men’s Clothing,’ he said.
“The awards are nice and all, and we appreciate every piece of recognition, whether it comes from a title, a plaque or just a compliment from an appreciative customer. But it's also about what we do for the community. This includes our dedicated employees, some have worked for Jack's for decades,” he added. “Also, giving back to the community is a special priority for me. We participate in several local events, including the sheriff’s rodeo. And one of the most recent things we have decided to do is recognize our hometown heroes. We want to showcase those that not only shop in our store but represent the type of Cullman resident we look up to. Our first hometown hero is Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry. He was featured in last month’s issue. He has been shopping at Jack’s since he was a young boy. And we are already looking for our next candidate.”
Jack’s Western Wear is located at 114 Schwaiger Road, Cullman, AL 35055. It carries a large variety of Western, work and outdoor boots, hats and apparel – along with jewelry and other accessories – for men, women and kids. Find Jack’s Western Wear online at www.jackswestern.com, Facebook/Jack's Western & Outdoor Wear,Instagram/jackswesternoutdoorwear and TikTok/@jacks.western.out.
“I’m proud of what we’ve built — not just a business, but a tradition. And we’re just getting started.” - Larry Allred