Texas Star Trading Celebrating 20 years in Abilene
Texas Star Trading Company, a downtown Abilene book, gift and gourmet shop, celebrated its 20th anniversary in July 2024.
Carol and Glenn Dromgoole opened the store on July 22, 2004, in a small downtown space that used to be a barber shop. They moved Texas Star to its present, much larger location at the corner of Cypress Street and North 2nd in 2007.
“When we started the store,” Carol Dromgoole recalled, “it was strictly a Texas book store. Very little else. But people kept asking for things like souvenirs and T-shirts and gourmet items, and so we gradually added those things and more to our repertoire.”
Texas books remain an important part of the store’s appeal – and Texas Star has hosted book signings for such noted Texas authors as John Erickson (Hank the Cowdog), Elmer Kelton, Kinky Friedman, novelists Jodie Thomas and Lisa Wingate, and numerous local and regional writers, including store co-owner Glenn Dromgoole, author of more than 30 books and a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame.
But the store also has broadened its inventory to appeal to a wider audience.
“We’ve become something of a go-to place for Texas things,” Carol Dromgoole said. “People refer to us as ‘that Texas store,’ which is fine with us. We’ve had visitors from every state and more than 50 foreign countries sign our guest book.”
The store does a brisk business with Texas-oriented gift baskets, especially in the holiday season, featuring custom baskets for individual and corporate gifts.
“These days, when it’s so hard to shop for that special someone who doesn’t really need anything, a Texas gourmet gift basket or a Texas-themed book is a way to offer something unique, tailored to their personality,” Carol said. “And we offer free gift wrapping!”
Texas Star bills itself as “The National Store of Texas” and flies 10 Texas flags outside, promoting its distinctive theme.
“We have people come here from Dallas and Houston and Austin who say they don’t have anything like this in their cities,” Carol said. “We just smile and say, ‘Well, welcome to Abilene!’”
