Welcome to Bill Jackson's!

  
We are proud to be a family owned and operated business since 1946. It all began... by accident! 

Bill Jackson ("Mr. J") was stationed at MacDill AFB during WWII. After 2 1/2 years in England with the 8th Air Force, he returned to the Florida sunshine and married Harriet Rogers. They had met while he was stationed at MacDill and married in December 1946. 

In the same year, Mr. J attended an army surplus sale. After being "awarded" 500 pounds of rat poison and a ton of laundry bleach, he soon realized... he was in business. After that there were radio parts, army blankets, parachutes, foot lockers, office desks, file cabinets, and more! 

The backyard garage soon had to give way to rented space in an old metal building on 4th Street South. By 1950, bigger and better space was needed. So... in 1951, he assumed the mortgage of a defunct roofing company at the northwest corner of 4th Street and 11th Avenue South. But he was dealt a great setback when the city condemned the ramshackle building before he ever moved in! The landlord even refused to extend the lease, while a new building was being constructed. But somehow, plans for the renovated building were drawn, approved, and built... ALL IN 30 DAYS! 

Work clothes, fishing tackle, and camping supplies were added. Even SCUBA in its infancy was taught by Mr. J in 1952. Gradually outdoor sports took the place of Army Surplus. The business flourished and the store underwent several major expansions. 

But Mr. J was still not satisfied. So he, Harriet, and sons Darry and Doug started planning "The Dream Store." In 1968, they purchased five acres of woods on U.S. Highway 19 in Pinellas Park. For the next eight years they dreamed of the store that they wanted... an indoor pool for SCUBA and kayak instruction, a classroom where they could hold clinics and invite speakers, and indoor shooting range... 

In January of 1976, after overcoming multiple building problems, the "impossible" was started. The store opened its doors on the day after Thanksgiving 1976 -- ready or not! 

And now, after many years of hard work and dedication, Bill Jackson, Inc. is nationally known as an outstanding and unique sports store. And still owned and operated by the same family for more than 50 years!