What may be the oldest jewelry store in Jacksonville will be moving from the downtown historic landmark building that it has called home for more than nine decades after the classic building it anchors was sold.

Jacobs Jewelers owners Roy and Delorise Thomas, who have worked there since 1968, will only say that they are moving to a "more customer-friendly" site after Jan. 1.

As leasing brochures for the Greenleaf and Crosby Building show their corner site up for lease along with other parts of the Art Deco structure, Delorise Thomas said it is time for a new chapter.

"We love being downtown and being part of the history of Jacksonville," she said. "We are definitely not going away. We are just relocating. We are excited about the new location and very excited about the future of Jacksonville."

More changes downtown: Jacksonville's century-old Federal Reserve, Baptist Convention buildings getting new life with restaurants, apartments

New life for old hotel: Once renowned, downtown Jacksonville's historic Ambassador Hotel to become new boutique hotel

JWB Real Estate Capital bought the building in May for $6.95 million, company President Alex Sifakis said. They will keep it as an office building and are planning on moving its corporate headquarters there at some point next year, he said.

"We are going to work with the Downtown Investment Authority on incentives for the renovation," he said. "Jacobs will be moving out in January. We are planning on bringing a retail operator, likely an F&B [food and beverage] concept, to the space."

The building and store's history

Damon Greenleaf opened the first jewelry store in the late 1860s along East Bay Street, also selling flamingo plumes, seashells, alligator heads, live birds and small animals. J.H. Crosby joined the business a few years later.

The Great Fire of 1901 destroyed that first store, but the two men relocated two blocks down to 41 W. Bay St. And to mark the spot, they ordered a huge four-sided Seth Thomas Clock at a cost of $1,200, according to a 1997 Times-Union story.

Then Greenleaf and Crosby built the current 12-story building in 1927, just two blocks from City Hall and the Main Library. Each floor is about 4,875 square feet, while the Jacobs Jewelers site is 4,315 square feet.

The iconic 15-foot-tall cast-iron and bronze clock was also moved to the new site. Then in 1930, the jewelry store they had opened on the northwest corner of Laura and Adams streets in the building became Jacobs.

New owners

The Thomases took over ownership of Jacobs in 1987. And while they love the historic downtown corner site, Delorise Thomas said parking issues and traffic have made it hard to do business.

"Our customers have a difficult time getting to us at times," she said. "We are finalizing the decision on a new location, and as soon as we have that finalized we will let you know. ... We have plenty of time to do all we need to do."

Facelifted time: Downtown Jacksonville's iconic clock gets facelift

Discovering hidden gems: Places and faces in downtown Jacksonville

The bronze and black 2.2-ton clock is one of only 12 believed to remain out of only 100 made by the Seth Thomas Clock Co. in Connecticut. Granted local landmark status, it was removed in 2011 as part of the Laura Street enhancement project. Sent to the Verdin Co. of Cincinnati for restoration, it was placed in a new and deeper concrete base at the corner.

Thomas had no comment about the clock in regards to the move. And she would not confirm where the new Jacobs will be, only that they are "relocating out of downtown." But she said customers "are all on board with our plans," calling it a wonderful opportunity for their "next chapter."

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacobs Jewelers leaving historic downtown Jacksonville building