Hugh Irving, who followed his father and grandfather in running gents' outfitters J T Carson Ltd of Prestatyn has decided to hang up his measuring tape and retire.
Hugh himself, who is 66, has been in charge since 1963, when the business moved from small premises in the town's Station Road to its current site at the top of High Street.
It was his grandfather, Joseph Carson, who first entered the tailoring profession and moved from Scotland to Wrexham, where he used to visit customers in their homes. He then opened shops in Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead.
His son Tom then took over and the family moved to Prestatyn in 1954 and the business expanded when the purpose-built premises in High Street were developed.
Hugh began his career in retailing at Browns of Chester, working in various departments, including menswear, where he was taught how to measure customers by a member of a Savile Row tailoring family which had a concession in the store.
Than man, Bernard Weatherill, later entered politics and went on to become Speaker of the House of Commons.
Since then the shop's catchment area for customers has also widened to take in a large part of north east Wales and the coastal area.
Having decided it was time to retire, Hugh put the business on the market six months ago but despite a couple of expressions of interest no buyer has been found, so the doors will finally close on May 31.
"It would have been nice to find someone prepared to continue to run a menswear shop on the site but unfortunately it has not happened and retailing has changed so much over the years," he said.
He is proud of the reputation of the family business and of the role both the firm and he personally have filled in the town.
He has been active in the community, having been Mayor of the Borough of Rhuddlan, a magistrate and a leading member of Prestatyn Business Association.
"It's nice to think that Carson's has been central to the business community," he added.