Merced jeweler closing after five decades doing business. What led to the decision?

When Richard Peraino’s father Vince first went into business, Richard Nixon was president, Carole King ruled the Billboard charts — and an intrepid-yet-unknown new filmmaker named Steven Spielberg had released his first feature film.

There aren’t many businesses who can say they’ve survived for that long — having navigated storms of financial downturns, coming-and-going trends, the Great Recession and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having achieved that level of staying power, it may come as a surprise to some that the family who owns and runs Peraino’s Jewelers announced this week they are permanently hanging the “closed” sign after five decades of business.

Richard Peraino, the store’s manager, explained to the Sun-Star while closing the family business “breaks his heart,” he’s ready to retire.

“I was going to retire at 50 and now I am 65. We just feel it’s a good time, my grandkids are in Idaho and we want to spend more time with them, Richard said. “It’s time to retire now.”

Early beginnings

According to Vince Peraino’s 2019 obituary, he and wife Frances “Fran” Bixby started the business that would become Peraino’s after he retired from Castle Air Force Base.

He practiced real estate for several years and in 1973 started a small coin shop inside a department store — which eventually became its own Merced Mall storefront.

Vince’s business Merced Coin eventually moved into the jewelry industry, becoming Peraino’s Jewelers and Merced Coin and Stamp in the Bear Creek Galleria in the early 1980s. Today the business remains at 2844 G St. in the galleria.

Richard says he and his family will still remain part of the Merced community.

“It’s been real good and the people here have really supported us over the years. We still have new customers coming in — and we have a lot of old timers that don’t want us to leave,” Richard said, with a nostalgic laugh.

But the store isn’t saying goodbye without also giving customers something to be excited about.

They are closing with a big retirement sale. It will include discounted jewelry and other store items, including store fixtures, displays and equipment, according to the family.

Some of the jewelry available during the closing sale will include diamonds, gold, engagement rings, wedding rings, pearls, colored stones and watches. All items will be priced to liquidate.

The sale starts Nov. 11 and will last until the end of the year.

Richard said the past five decades have been extremely valuable to he and his family.

“Really the experience here is the best thing ever that we could take with us,” he said.

“We thank Merced and all of the support they gave us, and just look forward to a new adventure.”

Peraino’s Jewelers is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 7:00 AM.