Store Closing

Famous Western Store Rides Off Into The Sunset

Tekamah, NE- After 52 years of fitting locals, rock stars and rodeo queens in their Boots and Cowboy Attire the owners of Dick’s Western Store, an institution in Downtown TekamahNebraska, have decided to retire and close the business.

“It’s been an incredible ride” says Anne Sheets, the current owner with husband Floyd, and employee of the store since high school. “In my heart I wish Dick’s could stay open forever, but I know that’s not reality”

The current location opened as Dick’s Western Store in 1968. Dick Sheets graduated from Herman High in 1947 and moved to Tekamah after attending barber school and meeting MargeBowland who would become his wife of 67 years. He opened his own barber shop in 1949 and after a few moves landed in a building on 13th street that was too big for just the barber shop. Dick and Marge started selling shoes and boots in the extra space, eventually added Western Apparel and Cowboy Hats and began the legend of Dick’s impeccable customer service and selection of fine boots and clothing.

Business at Dick’s grew steadily, and soon locations were added in Omaha and Norfolk. He eventually sold the Tekamah store to Floyd and Anne to spend additional time at the other stores and pursue his love of Appaloosa horses. The other two stores were open for more than a decade and at one time Dick owned over 100 horses. In his later years, most days Dick could still be found at the flagship store and barbershop on Tekamah’s Main Street chatting up patrons and selling boots. In a 2010 profile of the store he said “Coming to town every morning has been like starting a vacation. You never know what will happen, but it’s usually something great!”. Dick passed away in 2016 but he was the tap root of an incredible family tree and the store and his Legacy were left in good hands. Most of the Sheets kids and grandkids have grown up in the store and can fit a pair of boots or shape a Stetson hat on the steamer. At 92 Marge still stops by the store on occasion see what’s new.

When Dick started his barber shop on Tekamah’s main drag hair cuts were .50. Dick’s son Greg followed in his footsteps and still offers a great haircut for a for a very reasonable $13 and even an old school straight razor shave for the men. When she started Anne was the 17-year-old high school sweetheart of Dick’s son Floyd, and painfully shy with the customers. “Dick used to make me stand in front of the 3-way mirror and smile at myself”. She eventually came out of her shell and for 45 years customers have traveled across many state lines for her expertise of boots and bright personality. She once fit Johnny Cash in a hat and boots at the Omaha store. “It’s been a real joy to live and work in this community and share Dick’s legacy” said Sheets. “I will mostly miss our faithful customers, and the smell of leather!”

Customers from a wide-ranging area will certainly miss Dick’s Western Store as well. The Sheets Family would like to say thanks for an incredible 52-year run.

Greg’s Barbershop will remain open during and after Dick’s Retirement Sale.