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Family-owned Marshall Jewelers in Lakeland closing after a century in business

Family run jewelry store set to close in Polk County
Family-owned Marshall Jewelers in Lakeland closing after a century in business
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LAKELAND, Fla. — If you’re looking for Bill Marshall, he is not hard to find. He’s in the back of Marshall Jewelers, repairing and remodeling jewelry and working on watches.

The 80-year-old and his wife Carol, 78, are the second generation to run the jewelry and gift shop.

The jewelry store first opened in Lakeland in 1921. It transitioned to the ownership of Frank and Helen Marshall in 1956. Bill and Carol took over the business from his parents in 1988.

WATCH full report from Rebecca Petit

Family run jewelry store set to close in Polk County

"We’ve dealt with children who become adults, who become parents, who become grandparents,” said Carol.

The couple has run the jewelry store for 37 years, even surviving through the COVID pandemic.

“We have survived construction downtown. We’ve survived all kinds of economic conditions, some pleasant some unpleasant but we survived,” Bill said.

Now, after 104 years, the family-owned jeweler is closing its doors. The couple is ready to retire and said now is the right time.

Marshall Jewelers

“We’re getting emails from vendors everyday about the tariffs and whether they are going to have high tariffs, low tariffs. They don't know what they’re doing and that also factored into the decision to close,” Carol said.

The store will close in mid-June. The Marshalls said through the years a lot of customers have become family.

“No question about it, I'm going to miss the people. I’ve had folks come by this morning and we’ve been visiting. That’s what I'm going to miss,” said Bill.

'Cruise lights' on Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office patrol cars raise questions, confusion among drivers

Every driver knows that when you see red and blue flashing lights on a patrol car, you slow down, pull over, or get out of the way.

But in Hillsborough County, drivers will also now see deputies with their lights on, but not flashing. They're called "cruise lights," and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) recently implemented their use on all patrol vehicles.

"Cruise lights" on HCSO patrol cars raise questions and confusion among drivers