Our Story

Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, 1952. This is where the Mobley story began.

CD Mobley and his son, Chris Mobley Sr., started their journey in retail by first moving from Lawrenceburg to Fulton, Mississippi, and then to Tupelo. In 1971, the Mobleys settled in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where they opened The Varsity Shop on University Boulevard. The shop quickly became known for offering some of the finest retail products in the area. As demand for high-end fashion grew, so did their business. In 1985, the Mobleys rebranded as Mobley & Sons and relocated to the Tuscaloosa Galleria, solidifying their reputation as the premier luxury clothing store in West Alabama.

In 2017, Christopher Mobley joined the family business after graduating from the University of Alabama. Two years later, in 2019, he and his father decided it was time to evolve the business to reflect the changing tastes of modern consumers. They opened the Christopher Mobley Store on University Boulevard, this time with a more contemporary design and a focus on athleisure, catering to the needs of the modern entrepreneur, golf enthusiast, and remote worker. The new store featured sleek branding, including a logo with the letter M and the Roman numeral III, representing three generations of the Mobley family in the retail clothing business.

But Christopher’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t start there. In 2018, he had an inspiration that would change the course of their business even further. In 2018, Christopher Mobley was brainstorming ideas for Alabama gameday apparel when a moment of inspiration struck him. While hanging out with friends at Innisfree Irish Pub in Tuscaloosa, Mobley noticed everyone wearing Alabama-themed shirts with various logos—most featuring the classic script A, elephant, etc. He had already created a line of Alabama basketball shirts with “Tide Hoops” in cursive, but something still felt off.

As he kept thinking about the design, he realized that if he simply covered up the “Hoops” part of the shirt, it would reveal something perfect: a sleek, script-style “Tide” logo. That’s when it hit him—this simple yet bold design would revolutionize Alabama collegiate apparel.

As demand for the new Tide shirts skyrocketed, Mobley and his family quickly realized that they needed to get the product closer to campus to keep up with the growing demand. At the time, they were selling online and through Mobley & Sons, but being farther from the University of Alabama’s campus made it harder to reach students and fans who wanted their gameday gear.

Seeing the potential for more growth, they decided to open a store near campus. This led to the creation of the Christopher Mobley Store, a retail location that would allow them to be directly in the heart of the action and make the Tide shirts even more accessible to the Alabama fanbase.

The opening of the store was timed perfectly with the surge in popularity of the Tide logo, and it quickly became a must-visit spot for Alabama fans. The success of the logo and the store soon attracted the attention of many competitors, who attempted to replicate the design. Despite the limitations, the Mobleys' vision had already changed the Alabama collegiate apparel landscape, and the Christopher Mobley Store solidified its place as the premier destination for luxury Alabama apparel.

Then, just as the Mobleys were settling into their new store, the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. The world, and the retail landscape, shifted dramatically. But thanks to the strong relationships the Mobleys had built over the years and their deep understanding of customer needs, they not only survived but thrived. As remote work became the norm, the demand for athleisure and performance-driven apparel surged. Christopher Mobley continued to stay ahead of the trends, adding brands like Vuori, Rhone, Mizzen + Main, and Greyson to his roster, solidifying the store as a leader in the athleisure movement.

Today, Christopher Mobley is more than just a clothing store; it’s a symbol of resilience, innovation, and the power of family. The Mobley legacy, which began in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, and expanded to Tuscaloosa over three generations, continues to shape the retail landscape. The Tide shirts, the luxury menswear, the athleisure—everything that the Mobley family creates is a reflection of their ability to evolve and grow while staying true to their roots.

The success of the Christopher Mobley Store, now an iconic part of the Tuscaloosa retail scene, speaks to the family’s ability to seize opportunities and lead in times of change. With loyal customers, a strong community bond, and a forward-thinking mindset, the Mobleys have built a brand that continues to be revered in Tuscaloosa and beyond.