Time stands still at Gerry's
"Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day or "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley might be playing in the background.
Gerry's has thousands of oldies in stock, so if you were a child or teenager in the 1950s, '60s or '70s, you will probably hear one of your favorite songs of those eras playing if you hang around long enough.
Gerry's News and Music has been around for more than 50 years in High Point. In the beginning, it was on Main Street. Gerry Hancock, a schoolteacher, and her mother opened the shop in 1957. Besides records, Hancock also sold knitting needles and taught classes in knitting.
Charlie Allred was looking for a business to run in addition to working at a paper company. One day, Allred saw an advertisement for Gerry's and decided this was the business. That was 38 years ago this month. When Allred retired from the paper company, he continued to run Gerry's.
Jim Wirsching worked for a company making computer tapes and was one of Allred's customers. Allred and his two partners persuaded Wirsching to become a member of the corporation in 1972. Now, many customers think he is the original Gerry.
"Some call me Gerry or even Jerry," he said with a laugh.
In the 1970s, the shop was in High Point Mall, but it has been at College Village Shopping Center now for many years. Its second location is at the shopping center at 1153 E. Lexington Ave. across from the N.C. License Bureau.
Hancock sold books, magazines and posters when she first opened the shop.
Charlie Allred says they dropped the knitting needles but still have the books, magazines and LPs along with CDs, new and used DVDs and cassette tapes. At one time they even had 8-track tapes.
Wirsching says most of their music fits three categories: rap, gospel and old-school music of the '50s through the '80s. The shop also has a collection of children's videos and books.
Wirsching has had an interest in music since elementary school. "It was my hobby," he said. He worked on the records, cassettes and 8-tracks at the shop.
"Now, none of those items are produced," Wirsching said.
The store buys and sells used paperbacks. Customers get credit for the used books purchased at Gerry's, usually 20 percent of the price of the book when it was new. Many regular customers stock up on books when they are going on vacation.
The books are arranged in categories such as mysteries, westerns, biographies and romances. Once in categories, the books are arranged by author so the book is usually easy to find.
CDs and records are arranged primarily by category.
Many of Gerry's customers have been shopping there for years. They know Allred and Wirsching by name and often stop to chat.
In one corner of the store are three chairs often occupied by customers chatting with Allred and Wirsching.
"It is like the old country store without the potbellied stove," Allred said.
Allred and Wirsching say they have stayed in the business this long because of the people.
"We like people and have made many friends," Allred said.
"Many of our customers go way back, and we are now getting visits from the grandchildren of some of our original customers," he said. "There are not many mom-and-pop stores left around."
Looking for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon and look for books? Browse at Gerry's, and don't be surprised if you feel like a teenager again as "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and the Comets plays in the background.
If you have news of High Point, contact Kathy Johnson at mjohnson2@triad.rr.com
