Gunnel Humphreys said in January that she would sell Edge City, the retail store that she and her late husband, Tom McCleery, took over in 1975, so she could retire before her 80th birthday.
Humphreys accomplished that goal.
She said Oct. 16 that a longtime customer, Cheryl Croft, and her daughter, Laura Croft, will be the new owners and operators of the landmark small business in Five Points.
“They are my customers. I am thrilled,” Humphreys said.
When she and McCleery bought the store, they sold blacklight posters, incense and rolling papers. Years later, Humphreys transformed it into a specialty boutique, selling women’s fashions and accessories that aren’t available anywhere else in Jacksonville.
Humphreys was the 2021 Jacksonville Daily Record Top Entrepreneur Legend.
Croft Business Ventures registered Edge City at 1017 Park St. with the state Oct. 13.
“It’s not 100% final. We have a verbal agreement and we are working on a lease agreement. Gunnel doesn’t want to retire until next year, so we will have our opening in January,” Cheryl Croft said.
The Crofts and Humphreys have been working together for months, attending the Atlanta Apparel fashion market in August to select the spring and summer 2024 collections.
“Gunnel will continue to be a consultant. We plan to go to the market in New York next spring. It’s a wonderful feeling,” Croft said.
Cheryl Croft retired from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in 2022 after 31 years in operations and administration.
She said she and her daughter, who has retail experience, were motivated to take over Edge City because they are familiar with the store and want to provide the community an alternative to online shopping.
“I have been a customer for 30 years and my daughter and granddaughter are customers. We have to save landmarks like Edge City and we want to continue Gunnel’s legacy,” Croft said.
Humphreys will run the store through the holiday season. After Christmas, the store will close for a couple of weeks and then reopen in mid-January, Croft said.