About
The Story Behind Our Building
We are proud to be a part of the rich history of Texas with our building by the tracks at 100 N Main St in Grand Saline.
TRAX General Store & Mercantile and Two Salty Broads Soda Shop & Bistro opened their doors on December 4, 2024, continuing the legacy of this historic downtown landmark.
The Gibson Building
About our Historic 100 N Main St Building
This downtown landmark began with a one-story building housing JE Thomas Grocery, followed by the construction of a two-story structure where Lawrence Grocery occupied the lower floor.
After a fire destroyed that building, local railroad agent Mr. Gibson constructed the current brick building as an investment, leaving his name displayed in the brick facade at the top. The new building became the site of Grand Saline’s first movie theater and served as the upstairs meeting place for the Masonic Lodge, which was accessible via exterior stairs.
Over the Years
In its early years, the building briefly served as a temporary post office in the early 1900s while the main post office underwent renovations. By the 1920s, it housed Smith’s General Store, continuing its legacy as a retail hub. In the 1930s, the building was used as a polling station for local elections. The ground floor later hosted various businesses, including Bailey’s Furniture and Appliance Store in the 1950s and 1960s, The Emporium Ice Cream Shop in the 1970s, and a Trailways Bus Station in the mid-1970s, with buses stopping along the south side. Later, Lingg & Associates toy store brought joy to the space.
Today
This historic building, with its classic brick facade and large windows, continues to thrive as a nostalgic shopping experience thanks to TRAX General Store & Mercantile, with Two Salty Broads Soda Shop & Bistro offering ice cream and delicious bistro lunches for residents and travelers alike, preserving its East Texas legacy as a vital part of downtown Grand Saline.
Contact
Know more about our building's history, or have pictures of it from before it became TRAX? Let us know!