Gary J. Long Jewelers, located in Stockton’s Lincoln Center, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, a remarkable milestone for any business, and one that speaks to the quality of service and dedication to community that Gary and his team have brought to the Stockton area.
Gary started his jewelry career in 1970 while attending California State University Sacramento. After graduating, with a degree in marketing, Gary continued his jewelry education at local stores. In 1983, Gary purchased what was then Village Jewelers from Jim Glasscock. He then received his Registered Jeweler certification from the American Gem Society in 1987. After six years in what is currently La Mesa Restaurant, Gary moved the store to its current corner location in 1989. He is happily married to Anne, is a grateful father of one son, two daughters and an extremely proud “Poppio” to his six grandchildren.
Over the years, the store has expanded and undergone a few remodels, always striving to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for our customers. But despite these changes, our commitment to exemplary customer service has remained a constant. We believe that every customer who walks through our doors deserves our full attention and respect, and we work hard to build lasting relationships with each and every one of them.
One of the keys to our success has been our location in Lincoln Center, a vibrant shopping and business district in the heart of Stockton. With Lincoln Center consisting of over 80% locally owned business and owned by a Limited Partnership of local residence, we are proud to be part of this strong community and grateful for the support we have received over the years, especially being named Merchant of the Year in 2018. It has been a huge asset, providing a central location for our customers with store front parking, a variety of shopping options, great security, and several annual events.
Another reason for Gary J. Long Jewelers' success is our dedicated team of jewelry professionals including General Manager Kim Jones-Boutte’, Sales Manager Will Mar and our social media Director/Administrative Assistant Lisa Marie Delgado. Along with our in-house jeweler, we take pride in running a local, small-town store where every customer is treated like family. With a focus on exemplary customer service, a no-pressure sales technique, the highest integrity and the utmost professionalism we’ve been named “one of the top three jewelry stores in San Joaquin County” for 30 consecutive years. We always try to find a reason to “yes”.
Gary's involvement in the community reflects his belief in the importance of giving back and supporting others. He has always been passionate about using his skills and resources to make a difference, and he has inspired the team to do the same. Over the years Gary has been an active participant in numerous organizations and charities, including Stockton Sunrise Rotary, Leadership Stockton, United Cerebral Palsy, and March of Dimes. He currently serves on the Board of Directors at Farmers & Merchants Bank and spent over a decade in leadership at the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, where he served as president from 2012-2013 and was named Business Person of the Year in 2009.
Gary has been equally involved within the jewelry industry. He has served on the Board of the American Gem Society, is a past president for the California Jewelers Association and is a current member of the Retail Advisory Board for the Centurion Jewelry Show. His hard work and dedication were recognized in 2005 when he received the Robert B. Westover Distinguished Service Award from the California Jewelers Association, only the 5th recipient in the history of the award.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our customers. We are grateful to the many individuals and families who have trusted us with their jewelry needs over the years, and we are committed to continuing to earn that trust every day.
As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we look back with pride on our many accomplishments and forward with excitement to what the future holds. Our commitment to the Stockton community and our customers remains as strong as ever. Thank you for your support over the past four decades, and we look forward to many more years as "Your Jeweler for Life's Celebrations".
