Santon's

Butros ‘known as B’ Santon (1888-1964) and his brother Namaan ‘known as Nicholas or N. E.’ Santon (1890-1977) emigrated from Lebanon to the United States in 1907. Attorney and author William Sanders II wrote in his book Legacy of Homes and Families Princeton - Athens Area West Virginia, "They originally were peddlers for several years, going through the countryside selling to farmers and rural residents thread, scissors, material and all sorts of merchandise.” They had a building built at 309 Mercer Street and opened a store in 1909 selling grains, seeds, groceries and other merchandise that they ran for years.

About 1920 they bought out Joe Lisagor and opened the Santon’s department store on the corner of Mercer and 7th Street. Joe Lisagor opened another store on Mercer Street.

Jacob B. Santon (1931-2023) was the son of B. Santon. George N. Santon (1942-2004) was the son of N. E. Santon. When B. and N. E. retired from Santon’s, Jacob and George became the owners and operators of the department store.

Jacob retired from the store with 30 years service. Additionally, he taught business classes at Concord College (now Concord University) for 13 years and sold real estate for 20 years.

Jacob’s wife Beryle Crockett Santon (1929-2013) was a public school teacher, textbook publisher consultant, and college professor. She retired as Director of Student Teaching and Coordinator of Field Experiences at Concord). In her obituary she requested in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Concord University Foundation, Beryle Crockett Santon Fund. (Seaver's Funeral Home Obituaries.)

George N. Santon was co-owner of Santon’s department store for 24 years. Moreover, he was the mayor of Princeton in 1974-1975.  In the 1968 Princeton High School Legend he advertised Santon’s as “Princeton’s Finest Department Store.”

Under George’s leadership “Santon’s on Mercer Street in the heart of downtown Princeton was well known throughout the region for its elegant fashions and appeal to the lady customers seeking to keep abreast with the national trends.” --Princeton, Images of America, William R. ‘Bill’ Archer.

Santon’s department store was one of the few stores in Princeton to survive the Depression. Changing times and big store competition proved too strong and it, like so many family owned businesses, had to close about 1992.