Articles and News

Wayne, MI--Leo's Jewelry & Gifts is celebrating its 80th anniversary, marking eight decades as a family-owned business and community fixture in Wayne, according to a report by The Wayne Dispatch. Mayor John Rhaesa presented a certificate of recognition to David Zuckerman and his wife on behalf of the Wayne City Council to commemorate the milestone.

[Image via Leo's Jewelry & Gifts/Facebook]

The report states that the store's origins trace back to 1941, when Leo and Dorothy Zuckerman opened Wayne Toy and Furniture, selling toys, bicycles, and small household goods. By the 1950s, the business had relocated to Michigan Avenue, occupying a historic home built in 1832 by town founder Ezra Derby. It then moved again in 1956, when road expansion necessitated the demolition of the building. The shop was renamed Leo's Gift Center, shifting its focus to gifts, cards, and costume jewelry.

Following Leo's passing in the late 1950s, his sons David and Larry Zuckerman took over operations with their mother, gradually transforming the store into a full-service jewelry business. The company expanded in the 1970s, acquiring neighboring storefronts and briefly opening a second location in Metro Mall. It officially became Leo's Jewelry & Gifts, offering fine jewelry, watches, collectibles, and bridal pieces, the report notes.

Dorothy retired in 1981, the same year the store celebrated its 40th anniversary. Today, Leo's remains a cornerstone of downtown Wayne—continuing the Zuckerman family legacy as it reaches its 80-year milestone.

Check out the report by The Wayne Dispatch here.