Jack Dugan's first night at 60 Broadway in Jim Thorpe was the night before he started first grade.

His dad had returned home from World War II and to took the family store's ownership into the second generation.Jack's grandfather, Paddy Dugan, had first opened the small town staple just down the street in 1932.On Nov. 5, the doors of Dugan's General Store will shut for good."It's very sad," Jack, who took over ownership from his father in 1980, said Wednesday."The customers really became extended family. You knew about their marriages divorces, successes and failures. There was a real personal connection."A combination of age and illness made the time right for Dugan to call it quits.Approaching 70 years old, many of his friends are retiring and the writing was on the wall."Business was consistently good, even here at the end," he explained. "We had a mix of local people and tourists. But, many of the things we handled here have diminished in popularity like Hallmark cards and cigarettes. You just can't make up that money."In true mom-and-pop shop fashion, the three-story building not only housed the store, but also was where the Dugan family lived."This house is a treasure," he said. "As boys we could make a lot of noise and nobody would notice. It's very spacious for being located downtown."Three generations of Dugan ownership was almost two.Jack never intended to take after his grandfather and father."I was actually training for another job and my father was diagnosed with throat cancer," he said. "I came home to help him through it and I started working here. We started selling Pennsylvania Lottery tickets and that made it financially viable to stay. I guess I just forgot to leave."One of Jack's favorite moments in the store came in 2000 when his mother won $1 million on a lottery ticket.Facebook posts made after news of the store's closing indicate customers are glad Jack stuck around."It was my mom's favorite place to stop at the curb, put on emergency flashers, go inside and buy greeting cards in the 1970s," said Terry Stermer, now of Orlando.Roy Souders, also now a Florida resident, was saddened by the news."I never thought that store would close," he said. "For some reason I thought it would always continue on. Maybe 'cause it's been there all my life."The Mauch Chunk Opera House posted, "As they say here in Jim Thorpe, you can check out any time you like but you can never leave, and we're glad for that."Jack said he and Jim wouldn't be checking out of the area. Both will be residing in the Allentown area.As for the building, it was sold to a couple from Las Vegas."I don't know what their intentions are for the store, but I think they primarily want the place for a residence," Jack said. "A big part of me wanted to see it remain a store."The last day for lottery tickets will be Oct. 27.Any food left over after the closing date will be donated to the local food pantry.Before the brothers leave, they will be taking a few mementos with them."We're each going to get one of the signs from the store and I'll be taking with me the brass footrest from the shoe shining stand my father had here," Jack said. "This place will always hold a special place in my heart."