ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti wˈʌn, ɡˈɪbz, ɪn pˈɑːɹtnɚʃˌɪp wɪð pˈiːɾɚ lˈɛstɚ, ˈoʊpənd ðɪ ɛmpˈoːɹiəm fɔːɹ bˈuːt ænd ʃˈuːz stˈoːɹ æt sˈɪkshˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi ˈeɪt klˈeɪ stɹˈiːt ɪn sˌæn fɹænsˈɪskoʊ, sˈɛlɪŋ ɪmpˈoːɹɾᵻd ʃˈuːz ænd bˈuːts.
In 1851, Gibbs, in partnership with Peter Lester, opened the Emporium for Boot and Shoes store at 638 Clay Street in San Francisco, selling imported shoes and boots.