Gene Lockwood's is a popular spot year-round for tourists and locals alike, but it adds style and fun to this summer season in particular with the hottest clothing, footwear, swimsuits and water toys.
Manager Cody Ward said a few items that have sold well all summer long are the EVA Birkenstocks, Columbia PFG Fishing Shirts and the Sportsstuff Poparazzi Tubes.
EVA Birkenstocks is a new, less-expensive style of sandals from Birkenstocks made out of a synthetic waterproof and lightweight material that is ideal for everyday use.
Columbia PFG Fishing Shirts are popular year after year, Ward said. These short-sleeve, button-down shirts have mesh-lined back vents that provide a cooling breeze in the hottest, muggiest weather, according to Columbia.
Sportsstuff Poparazzi Tubes are water tubes meant to be dragged behind a boat, allowing room for multiple tube-riders to stand, sit or kneel while flying across the lake.
Ward said water toys like tubes and wakeboards tend to grab mainly tourist's attention, but back-to-school clothes shopping at Gene Lockwood's is ideal for everyone.
There are two Gene Lockwood's locations: Hot Springs and Little Rock.
"I started working in the Little Rock location in 2007 (before transferring to the Hot Springs location two months ago)," Warren said. "We have great customer service and a very large inventory for the size of the store (here in Hot Springs). We've (also) had great management at both locations since they opened. ... Our goal is just to be friendly ... We're (always) trying to provide accurate information. We don't try to 'pressure sale' -- we don't take a used-car salesman approach -- we just try to be real smiley and be as helpful as we can."
Warren said since the store has been in Hot Springs since the 1960s, they have a lot of community support and loyal customers that they know on a more personal basis. He said that even though he is new to the Hot Springs location, he knows Gene Lockwood's management has always had a good relationship with the community from what the customers have told him.
"We opened our first store in Hot Springs in the early 1960s, from there it opened in the old Cooks building in the mid-1960s, remaining there until 2007 when we opened the current location," Gene Lockwood's owner Marty Ward said.
Eugene A. Lockwood founded what is now Gene Lockwood's in October 1955. Lockwood started his business as a leased sporting goods department of Pfeiffer Brothers Department Store in downtown Little Rock. While the merchandise carried has varied over the years, customer service has always been the priority.
Go Magazine on 08/15/2019