The story begins in 1975. Mike Zak, a New Jersey resident, traveled to Southwest Florida specifically to tour Naples. While he was there, someone told him about a new, "up and coming" city. Wanting to see for himself, Zak took a drive over the bridge and fell in love with Cape Coral. Seeing its potential, he moved his family to Southwest Florida from New Jersey and opened Cape Coral's very first jewelry store, Zak's Jewelry - 1314 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Suite 101, Cape Coral by November 1977.

Zak came to America, along with his family, from Argentina in 1963. "Zak and his cousin dreamed of manufacturing jewelry," the store's website recounts. "With $50 in each of their pockets, they were able to purchase $100 worth of gold, and this is how the dream began."

As a graduated mechanical engineer, Zak was able to design the tools necessary to create unique, handmade hammered mesh designs. One year later, he and his cousin rented 3,000 square feet of space on West 48th Street in midtown Manhattan, selling mesh watchbands to companies, such as Piaget and Hamilton. By 1973, Zak moved his operations to Brick, N.J. (also known as Bricktown). He became well known in town as "an esteemed businessman, a loving father, as well as the initiator, and coach, of the first soccer team in Brick."

Zak's Jewelry remains family-owned and operated to this day, doing all of its custom and repair work on site. Being in business for that long means a loyal customer base. Current co-owner Alison Polo, who is the daughter of co-founder Thomas Rosanio (Zak's son-in-law), said Zak's is now beginning to meet the fourth generation of some of the store's most tenured customers.

"It is an honor to continue to serve families in the way that we have for 43 years," she said. "Because we are family owned and operated, we take everything to heart. To me, the biggest compliments that I receive are about my grandfather and father."

Polo runs the store and her brother, Michael, is a jeweler along with her husband, Litton Polo. "The tradition of creating sparkling reflections of an individual's own tastes remains at the forefront of Zak’s Jewelry, which is why the name has always been deemed synonymous with creative jewelry," the website says.

The store offers a plethora of options, including bridal, custom, nautical, and sterling silver jewelry, as well as pre-owned Rolex watches and diamond tennis bracelets. Polo said the most popular items right now are diamond studs and diamond crosses. However, she personally favors the ladies wedding bands, especially the diamond eternity bands and stackables.

The store supports many local organizations, including the Southwest Florida Symphony, Southwest Florida Military Museum, Cape Coral Museum of History, numerous schools, as well as youth organizations. Polo also sits on the board of directors for South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Association and PRIDE Cape Coral.

The shop was closed for six weeks at the height of the COVID-19 global pandemic, but Polo said she and the staff at Zak's made the best of it.

"Our customers are loyal and for that, we are forever grateful!" Polo said.

Each October, the store celebrates its annual anniversary sale. Everything in-store is up to 60 percent off the regular price. Normal customers look forward to the sale, Polo said, because they know the promotion is a true sale. The shop owners and patrons alike look forward to normalcy in hopes the annual sale will be a big hit for the store's upcoming celebration of 44 years in business.