Written by Katelyn Sims

The story was originally published this year in the 2024-25 Brown County Area Guide.  Stay tuned as we post more stories from our 2024 magazines in the coming weeks. 

The city of Brownwood is characterized by many community-oriented businesses, some being its antique and resale shops. While Brown County has more than 20 such places overall, Brownwood is home to 13. Many of the shops have established roots deep into Brownwood’s history as long-time staples of the community; and most will agree, the town is a gem of the past as well as a home for all.

Evelyn Earp has been the proud owner of Closet Consignment on Center Avenue next to the Brownwood Lyric Theatre for nearly 20 years. She said that operating the shop means a lot regarding her personal life as she was born in Brownwood and has called it home for most of her life. However, she believes it contributes much to the community as well. “I wanted my shop to be for the working people,” said Earp. “That is my intention with my shop, to provide quality clothing that looks like new for prices people in my income bracket may afford.”

In addition to Earp’s long-standing contribution in Brownwood, Melissa Mullins, the storekeeper of Hey June on North Fisk Avenue, will be celebrating three years of business this upcoming June. She said there was no question about setting up shop in town because “Brownwood has always been home.” Mullins specifically enjoys serving the community through the store’s “blessing box” where people may donate various food items in order to feed those in need. “We are very proud of our blessing box and how it has served the community,” said Mullins.

Brownwood has been home to one particular shop for decades – Ricochet Oldies & Antiques on West Commerce Street. Housing artifacts from possibly a centuries-worth of memories, the shop is an iconic place for travelers of all sorts. Leslie Gilbreath has operated the store for the past twenty years after her predecessors handed it down to her – the original sign still attracting customers from all over. However, Gilbreath’s history of selling antiques started long before Ricochet. A native of Brownwood, she has traveled all over the country investing her life into the antique business whether from the hills of Kentucky or out of an old truck bed in her hometown. Nonetheless, she found herself operating a booth in Ricochet during the ‘90s and the rest is history. “It all started with a shelf,” said Gilbreath.

Since operating Ricochet, Gilbreath has recounted the most memorable points in time where the business largely impacted her personal life. “Ricochet has become a meeting place for my family, somewhere we can all come together,” she said. Her family and friends, both old and new, have left their footprints in the store and helped turn it into a place full of generational memories. “It is quite a blessing from the Lord,” said Gilbreath. “Ricochet has been an important space for my relationships with people and my faith.”

In addition to the stories that are important to Gilbreath’s personal life since taking over Ricochet, the shop has welcomed customers from all over the world that add to its history. Individuals have visited from various American states as well as foreign countries like Japan, Germany, and Norway. She specifically spoke of  a group from Norway that had come to Texas to study weather patterns and chase tornadoes. Along their journey, they stopped at Ricochet to explore. “I remember watching a group of very tall people crawl out of this van and come into the shop,” said Gilbreath. “They were very nice and had interesting accents, so I asked where they were from, and they told me their story.” Echoing Mullins from Hey June, Gilbreath mentioned that through encountering people from all different places, she has come to understand that “we’re all in this together.”

Ricochet is not only a space of business, but also a space that cultivates knowledge. “I have a lot of kids come in with their parents,” said Gilbreath. “I’m able to tell them all about the history behind the antiques.” She views the shop as her opportunity to personally invest in the education of the community. Gilbreath also believes it serves a lot of the local artists in Brownwood. Having once been a part of Brownwood’s Art Association, she commented on how the local artists will oftentimes purchase items and incorporate them into their pieces – “Ricochet has also become a creative outlet for the community.”

A home for all – this is Brownwood, Texas. Its antique and thrift shops are the best testament to this fact; and they continue to broaden the horizons of travelers all the while preserving memories that build the future.

Story was originally published in the 2024-25 Brown County Area Guide magazine.  Pick up a free copy at one of our sponsor locations.  Happy New Year!