Nearly 50 years ago, at least six stores dedicated to the sale and repair of jewelry operated on Washington Street in the heart of downtown. In weeks, there will be none.

Scallions Jewelers, which opened its doors at 1205 Washington in 1965, is moving to Halls Ferry Road, a newer building and parking with easier access.

“I’m not doing the business I need to downtown,” said Danny Scallions, who has operated for five years the business begun by his father.

N.L. Scallions operated at 1205 and soon after at 1207 Washington in the building where his son and grandson, Cory, work today.

The decision to move, Scallions said, is vital because of the downturn in the economy.

At the new location, 3425 Halls Ferry, Scallions said he will be lending money by returning the business to a jewelry and pawn store.

“With the economy and the gold business, where gold prices are soaring to $1,400 an ounce, I’m doing more buying than I am selling,” he said. “I’m reopening into Scallions Jewelers and Pawn. We do a lot of buying gold and coins. Now we can have the best of both worlds.”

Like Danny Scallions, Ed Canizaro, 63, grew up in the jewelry business on Washington Street.

“It’s hard to believe that in a couple of weeks, there won’t be any more jewelry stores downtown,” said the retired owner of the former Joseph Canizaro Jewelry store, which had been Strauss-Stallings for years before Canizaro took over. “It was a different game then when there were a lot of watch repairs. Now everything is digital.”

Ed Canizaro closed his store in 2004, shortly after the death of both of his parents.

Others that had come and gone along the once-bustling part of Washington were Michael’s, owned by Jerry and Mike Silver; Dee’s; Busch, a chain store; and Duncan’s, a watch repair specialist owned by Claude and Roy Katherine Duncan.

Canizaro said he fully understands Scallions’ decision to move and expand.

“In hard economic times, people stop buying jewelry,” he said. “Jewelry is the easiest thing not to buy. I’m sure (Scallions) has looked into this for several years. I think he’ll do well out there.”

Vicksburg Main Street Program Chairman Harry Sharp said the news of Scallions’ move saddens and surprises him.

“I certainly hope he continues to be successful,” he said.

He acknowledged Scallions’ complaint that parking along Washington Street is difficult for customers though Main Street repeatedly has asked business owners and employees to use alternative spots, such as those available in parking garages west of Washington.

Sharp, however, sees downtown getting a breath of life through a new proliferation of consignment and antique shops.

Five have opened in the past two years, including one operated by David Mitchell and Andrew Dawson next door to Scallions at 1205 Washington.

“I think it’s very good if you have a cluster of them. It tends to help bring people out. I don’t see it as being over-saturated.”

Scallions, who rents his current space and will rent on Halls Ferry, is nostalgic about his childhood in the jewelry store.

“I wanted to go out and play with the rest of my friends, but my daddy made me wash the watch cases,” he said “I didn’t want to be there.”

On Wednesday, he said, “Thank God my daddy made me do it.”

Among Scallions’ treasures being moved to the Halls Ferry store that will be twice as large as the one downtown is a 2-ton, century-old safe that his father bought from the U.S. Post Office in the 1940s. Another is a sign given to his father by the late Fred Nosser, the long-time owner and operator of the Glass Kitchen restaurant at South and Walnut streets.

The sign reads, “If you didn’t go to the Glass Kitchen, You haven’t been to Vicksburg.”