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Mayor John Rhaesa presents a certificate to David Zuckerman and his wife on behalf
of the Wayne City Council congratulating Leo’s Jewelry & Gifts on there 80th An-
niversary.
Leo’s Jewelry and Gifts

celebrates 80th anniversary

Leo’s started back in 1941 as the
brainchild of Leo and Dorothy Zuck-
erman, a husband and wife team
that opened "Wayne Toy and Furni-
ture" somewhere in the area of Michi-
gan at Laura. Leo seems to have
been from New York, and he worked
as a "Novelty Maker" in New Boston
before coming to Wayne.
By 1950 they would move the them. They would even have a sec-
shop to an old house on Michigan Av- ondary location in Metro Mall for a
enue. This house itself was signifi- time. Leo’s added a bridal shop area,
cant as it was built by town founder greeting cards and collectibles in the
Ezra Derby in 1832 and was the old- 70s, while changing the name again
est house in Wayne. The shop at the to "Leo's Jewelry and Gifts". Dorothy
time mostly sold small children’s would retire in 1981, and the busi-
toys, bicycles and things of that sort. ness would celebrate 40 years that
In 1947 Mr. Zuckerman was year. Leo’s continued to grow and
listed in the phone book as a bicycle prosper and today is largely a fine
repairman. In 1956 Michigan Av- jewelry and watch store celebrating
enue was being widened and the old 80 years in business.
house stuck out too far into the side-
walk, so it was torn down. The Zuck-
ermans moved a few doors down to
34904 Michigan and changed their
name to "Leo’s Gift Center". They
largely sold cards, small knick-
knack gifts, and costume jewelry, but
for the first time were labeled as a
jewelry store and not a toy store.
Sons David and Larry would take
over the business with their mother
after Leo’s passing in the late 1950s,
and would see the store switching
largely to jewelry.
The store was expanded in 1970
and in 1975 after buying up neigh- Leo’s Jewelry and Gifts began as Leo’s
boring storefronts and combining Wayne Toy and Furniture.
The Wayne Dispatch · October 2025 · 5