A business that began in Jacksonville soon after the Civil War is closing its doors at 204 N. Laura St. on Jan. 31. Roy and Delorise Thomas, owners of Jacobs Jewelers, are retiring.

“The Thomases have done a great service to Downtown. Their store is a destination,” said Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision Inc.

Roy Thomas, 83, was an insurance salesman when he decided to go into business for himself and leased a small space in the May-Cohens department store Downtown in 1960 to sell jewelry.

Read the rest of this story at the Jacksonville Daily Record, a Jacksonville Today news partner.