Howard’s Store celebrates milestone anniversary

  • Carol and Howard Gloor behind the counter, when the store was first opened.
    Carol and Howard Gloor behind the counter, when the store was first opened.
  • One of the earliest photos of the store.
    One of the earliest photos of the store.
  • Carol and Howard Gloor with their daughters, Ashley Ibsen and Laura Fischer
    Carol and Howard Gloor with their daughters, Ashley Ibsen and Laura Fischer
  • Howard Gloor celebrates his retirement and 40 years of business.
    Howard Gloor celebrates his retirement and 40 years of business.

    A beloved staple of Shiner, Howard’s convenience store, celebrated its 40th year anniversary in December. 
    Howard Gloor started the business 40 years ago in 1984 because he wanted to make it a good place for people to congregate in Shiner. 
    “A store is a building full of stuff that people need, but the one thing that makes this place a good place is because there’s good people that come here,” Gloor said.
    Gloor is a Shiner native. Prior to starting the business and after college, Gloor worked as a dentist in Shiner. 
    “I came back to my hometown of Shiner (from college) in 1977 and opened a dental practice,” Gloor said. “It was a good profession and a needed service for the community. However, as a lot of people say, ‘I hate going to the dentist.’ So, after seven years, I realized I needed to be where people were glad to see me.”
    Gloor wanted to make his business more than just your typical convenience store.
    “I wanted to have a place where people could come and visit and hang out,” Gloor said. “I decided to have an on-premise beer license. Shiner is a town where people like to drink beer. 
    Therefore, for those who wanted to drink, didn’t have to leave. They could stay and visit and make friends. I wanted to make this place welcoming to all people where old friends can meet and where people can make new ones.”
    Gloor said it’s very rewarding to celebrate 40 years of business. 
    “It seemed like it just passed by too quickly,” Gloor said. “I have so many memories and so many things that I think about. So many people have come through here. There are many children that I’ve seen grown up. I’ve seen infants that have grown up and now have kids or grandkids. 
    I’ve seen a lot of history. I met a lot of great people. A lot of people come to Shiner because of the brewery, and they’re excited to be here. I’ve had a chance to visit with a lot of those people who have made their second stop at my place. I’ve met so many interesting people that I would have never known before and I’m just so happy to be a part of that.”
    Even though the business can be challenging at times, Gloor attributes his success to the people who make the place possible including his trusted employees and his loyal patrons. 
    “There’s been a lot of people and vendors who have helped me along the way,” Gloor said. “I want to say thank you to the patrons who have been so loyal. There are so many people that you see everyday and, if you don’t see them, you worry about them.”
    After 40 years, one of the things that keeps Gloor motivated to run this store is the community of Shiner. 
    “This store is a part of the fabric of the community,” Gloor said. “That’s a motivation in and of itself. This has been a great place for 40 years and it should continue to be a great place for another 40 years. WhenI went into this business, I had the state of mind that this is moving forward, and I have to make this work. 
    The place we have here is no different than other places. Good customers and people you’re happy to be around everyday has made it what it is.”
    Gloor is now retired, and one fun tidbit of his retirement is that one of his patrons became the first and last person who Gloor served beer to. Jimmy Lloyd came into the shop in 1984 and bought himself a beer bright and early. On Dec. 21, Gloor’s final day, Lloyd came down again and ordered a beer at 7 a.m.
    “He bought the first beer from me on my first day and he bought the first beer from me on my last day,” Gloor said.
    Many people showed up for the 40th anniversary party in December.
    “I had a lot of congratulations from people and my daughter, Laura Fischer, set up a slideshow of the history of the whole place from day one,” Gloor said. “I was also able to play music with a lot of old friends. That made me feel really good. We had a great time.”
    The slideshow gave patrons the chance to see the history of Gloor’s business since its inception. Fischer had a comment at the end of the slideshow that exhibited how she and Howard’s friends and family feels about this milestone.
    “Howard has given so much of himself to make his place into a ‘home away from home’ for the community of Shiner,” Fischer said in the slideshow. 
    “It’s a place to laugh, a place to gather, and a place to celebrate. Shiner wouldn’t be Shiner without Howard’s! We wish him all the best in his retirement.”