A long-time Atlantic business owned by a local couple for more than 44-years, is being sold. Rich and Nedra Perry, owners of Geis-Perry Jewelry, announced today (Friday), they are selling their business and will be entering into retirement.

Nedra and Rich Perry reflect on their many years in Atlantic as Jewelers.

Rich Perry said they learned last December a couple from Iowa was interested in buying the store, and plans have been finalized making the sale to Kent and Patrice Hanson.

The Perry’s anticipate Christmas Eve will be the last day they will run the business. The Hanson’s bought the building and the business, but not the inventory, so Rich says they will hold a retirement sale beginning in November. Until then, everything will be run the same as it has been for the past 44-years.  He says the Hanson’s are family oriented. In fact, their daughter, Kendra Henningsen, lives here, which was a prime reason they wanted to move here. The Hanson’s have over 25-years experience in the business, and will be closing their own stores to relocate to Atlantic.

The first ad announcing the Perry’s had purchased the business back in the ’70’s.

The store will close at the end of December and re-open under new ownership but retain the same name, at least for now, in mid-January. Rich Perry says “It’s a win-win for everyone, in particular for the community.” Nedra Perry says it’s a bitter-sweet time in their lives, but something they’ve been looking forward to. She says it will be very hard to leave their customers and staff, because “They are family.”

Rich Perry says he looks forward to the change with a “Great, great deal of anticipation and an equal amount of apprehension,” because Nedra, he says “Will have to put up with twice as much husband with half as much income and vice-versa, since we work together.” The couple plans to stay in Atlantic, but winter elsewhere, where it’s warmer.