Though it overcame a fire in the early 1980s and survived a laundry list of social and political movements since its opening in 1952, on April 1 Peck’s Jewelers, 105 N. Main St., is set to join the list of businesses that have come and gone from downtown Bellefontaine.

Peck’s Jewelers, 105 N. Main St., will close March 31 after 57 years of business at the location. EXAMINER PHOTO | KRISTINE COOK

Current owner Pete Bates, who was out of the country and unavailable for comment, saw now as the time to make the step with the economic outlook remaining bleak, according to Ms. Furrow.

She said that greater than the cold hard facts on paper about the closing, though, are the faces of the customers who have told her so many stories since the closing was announced.

“People are very attached to their jewelry. I can tell you about little old ladies who have come in here with the skin grown over their rings because they’ve never taken them off,” Ms. Furrow said.

Although she has only been there a fraction of the store’s history, she often has heard stories of couples who purchased wedding rings or other jewelry at the store decades ago and have remained faithful customers.

“We have appreciated every single person who has come through that door throughout the years, whether it was a $5,000 diamond ring or a $5 battery,” she said. “What was always wonderful was when that person came back. That’s what you really like is the repeat customers because it makes you feel good that people want to deal with you when they have a lot of options.”

The store is offering discounts through Tuesday, March 31, when it will close for cleaning.