EASLEY — Robinson’s has been in existence since 1875 and is owned and operated by Alfred B. Robinson of Easley.

Mr. Robinson who has been a member of the community all of his life is the third generation to be a part of the Robinson Company lineage, and has seen his store change and adapt to the times as years have passed.

What makes Robinson’s so interesting is its unique and independent flair, coupled with its striking history and presence in Easley, nestled right in Old Market Square.

Before electricity, and even the popularity of telephones, the Robinson family business was born. In 1875 W.M Hagood, a double first cousin of W. W. Robinson, sought to provide the community with all of its basic needs and opened a general mercantile company.

In 1888, W. W. Robinson joined the company and initially worked for Mr. Hagood. The general store contained all of life’s necessities ranging anywhere from furniture and groceries, cotton grown by locals, hardware, a depository bank and even caskets.

“They had a big general store and they served people so well,” said Alfred Robinson of his grandfather’s business. “They used to use the motto ‘cradle to the grave.’ They also had caskets upstairs; it was their casket store.”

At the time, funeral homes were remarkably unheard of. People would come to the general store, shop for a casket and take it home where family and friends would often handle the services.

Over the years the notion of the general store faded and Mr. Hagood’s interest in the store ended. In 1902, W.W. Robinson and his partner acquired ownership of the business, which they then named Robinson and Thornton.

“Around the turn of the century Mr. Hagood decided he wanted to get into the textile business, so he opened up Glenwood Mill and Pickens Textile Mill,” Alfred Robinson said. “He sold the business to my grandfather [W. W. Robinson] and another gentleman.”

During World War I, W.A Robinson, son of W. W. Robinson and the father of Alfred Robinson, served in France as an infantry officer.

When W. A. Robinson came home he purchased Thornton’s interest in the store, allowing it to be run by father and son, and the name was changed to W. W. Robinson Company.

The store made it through the Great Depression while making a lasting impression on those who knew and frequented Robinson’s.

“They survived the Depression by helping people out,” Robinson said. “They lost money every year, but nobody knew it. They still extended credit to people during a time when banks didn’t lend money, before credit cards. This helped me in the long run and because of this I have many great friends and lasting friendships.”

In 1950, W. A. Robinson separated the funeral home and built Robinson Funeral Home Downtown, which was the first building in western South Carolina built specifically as a funeral home.

Alfred Robinson returned from active duty in the Army in 1950 and began to work for his father at Robinson’s. Bill Robinson, Alfred’s brother, was a member of the Army Air Corps and served in World War II. Bill Robinson and his son Jim Robinson are practicing attorneys in Easley.

In 1951 a disastrous fire destroyed the Robinson’s clothing store. The store was reopened in 1953. And after his father’s death in 1953, Alfred Robinson took over the family business at the age of 23.

“I started from nothing,” Alfred Robinson said. “After the death of my father, the goodness of my family allowed me to start to buy the business over times. All of my great friends helped me out too and that’s what got me through. Mr. Julian Wyatt and Easley Bank loaned me the down payment on my signature.”

While both Robinson’s and Robinson Funeral Homes have the same heritage and beginnings, today they are separate enterprises. Chris Robinson, son of Alfred Robinson, is the general manager of Robinson Funeral Homes, Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home in Central and Robinson Memorial Gardens on Powdersville Road.

As years went on Robinson’s became more specialized, and today is exceptionally stocked with clothes of the latest and finest fashions that include men’s and women’s attire from casual wear, evening gowns, mother of the bride and even a full tuxedo and sport jacket section for men. A shoe section can also be found with extensive styles of boots, heels, loafers, and many others. The store is run with care by Alfred Robinson, his wife Margot and a handful of contributing associates.

“We don’t like to dwell in the past in our business here, because people begin to think of you as old fashioned,” Robinson said. “We are the opposite. We follow trends. We get the very latest, and we go to all the markets including some in Europe.”

The store being closely owned allows Robinson to decide what to buy and where to buy it making the process quick and allowing the line-up to stay new and fresh.

“At the breakfast table we can discuss something and do it that afternoon,” Robinson said. “We don’t have to wait for a corporate decision.”

As opposed to major department stores, Robinson’s offers the same exceptional quality with more personal service.

“We are proud of our heritage, but are always looking at the present and the future.” Robinson said. “We also do the very best we can while getting the best prices that we can, we are known for that and will continue to do our business in this way.”