David, Herb and Gary Philipson

H i s t o r y
In 1951, after serving in the Navy, Herb Philipson followed in the footsteps of his family's successful Utica business and opened the first "Herb" Philipson's Army & Navy Store in Rome, New York. That first store, a wooden structure, had a little over 800 square feet of selling space in a modest storefront location. It was replaced with a new building on the same site in 1957, and has since moved to its current location on 300 West Dominick Street, Rome, N.Y.

In 1970, "Herb" Philipson's expanded and opened its second store, in downtown Oneida. A third store was added in the New Hartford Shopping Center in 1981, and a store in Herkimer opened in 1987. In 2003, a fifth store was opened in Watertown, and, last year, "Herb" Philipson's was proud to open its sixth store in Liverpool, N.Y.

Today, "Herb" Philipson's offers 180,000 square feet of fashion and work apparel, athletic and casual footwear, as well as a complete selection of camping, marine, military surplus, fishing and hunting apparel and equipment.

Right from the start, Herb made a decision to offer famous name brands at low prices. With this philosophy, he gained a reputation as the "Price Fighter," even appearing in television commercials to parry imaginary prices in the boxing ring. Herb passed sway in July 2004, and Gary, Herb's son, is carrying on the family tradition.

Gary, who worked alongside his dad for the last 23 years, oversees the stores' daily operations, assists in purchasing for all departments, and ensures complete customer satisfaction. This family approach - which also included Herb's late son, David - and commitment to the community is what has made "Herb" Philipson's such a success story.

"Herb" Philipson's has been outfitting Central New York for the Great Outdoors for over 57 years. It is the area's premier retailer for outdoor and casual apparel, workwear and footwear, and sporting and surplus goods. Customers know they will always find the best brands, lowest prices, and friendliest staff at "Herb" Philipson's.

Since 1951