PALESTINECHAMBER. ORG | 33
4 Generations of Bailey & Foster Funeral Home
facebook. com / citybootshop
Bailey & Foster Funeral Home traces its roots back to 1921, when G. G.“ Gus” Hassell came to Palestine and entered into a local funeral service partnership that began a family legacy of compassionate care. In 1938, L. E. Foster joined the business, forming Hassell & Foster and strengthening its role as a trusted community support during life’ s most difficult moments. David Foster became part of the firm in 1966, and in 1985, Tom W. Bailey merged his own practice with the family business, creating today’ s Bailey & Foster Funeral Home. In 1994, fourthgeneration member Michael D. Foster joined the firm, continuing nearly a century of service. Through changing times and generations, their guiding principle remains the same: compassionate care and steady support for families when it matters most, honoring lives with dignity and respect.
facebook. com / baileyfosterFH
Bralys Ace Hardware traces its roots back to 1932, when Braly Builders Supply opened during the Great Depression and began serving Palestine with building materials, lumber, and hardware essentials. Originally established by the Braly family and passed through generations, the business grew alongside the community, earning statewide recognition— including a Texas Treasure Business Award and being named the coolest hardware store on the planet by Ace Hardware. In 2013, current owners Vicki and Stephen Braly honored that legacy by renovating a historic 1938 school building and relocating the store to its current West Palestine Avenue location, preserving the site’ s character while expanding offerings. Today, Bralys facebook. com / bralys blends hometown charm with an extensive selection of tools, home
“ The Coolest Hardware goods, specialty items, and gifts,
Store ont he Planet”- facebook. com / bralys remaining a cornerstone of the Palestine community for more than 90 years. facebook. com / bralys ACE Hardware
photo courtesy Angela Howell-Fields
City Shoe Shop opened in 1943, founded by skilled cobbler Ernest R. Lane, who believed in repairing rather than replacing. Built on craftsmanship, patience, and pride in honest work, the shop quickly became a staple of local life. Customers brought in work boots worn thin by long days, Sunday shoes passed down through generations, saddlebags, purses, and well-traveled leather goods— each piece carrying its own story. Today, Robert Lane and his wife Sandra continue the family tradition, preserving not just footwear but memories. For more than 80 years, City Shoe Shop has quietly served Palestine with steady hands and small-town dedication, restoring the things people value most— one pair at a time. photo courtesy Angela Howell-Fields
City Shoe Shop has quietly served Palestine for 80 years.
photo courtesy Angela Howell-Fields
The Co-Ed Shop opened in 1960 when Maude Farris launched her women’ s boutique in a two-story home beside the Texas Theatre, with the shop downstairs and a rental apartment above. As the business grew, she relocated to 203 W. Main in the early 1970s, establishing its longtime home in downtown Palestine. In 1991, her daughter Linda Foster continued the family tradition, keeping the boutique locally owned and operated. More than six decades later, women still shop there for timeless pieces and personal service. The Co-Ed Shop stands as one of the longest-operating retail stores in Palestine— a testament to its staying power, loyal generations of customers, and enduring place in the heart of downtown.
photo courtesy Angela Howell-Fields
The Co-Ed Shopone of the longest-operating retail stores in Palestine