Making decisions in a democratic manner has allowed the Nejame family to remain in business for 96 years and four generations.

The business, located on the same block of South Street since 1921, started as a grocery store founded by Thomas and Lillian Nejame. Thomas was born in Lebanon and came to the U.S. to avoid a war in his birth country.

Their son, Edward, helped in the grocery store before falling ill with a lung infection in his late ’30s. Unable to continue working in the store, Ed partnered with another family member and started a home improvement and swimming pool business.

Now run by Ed’s sons — Ed Jr., Thomas and Gregory — Nejame & Sons continues to thrive as a development, home improvement and swimming pool business. The three brothers took over the business in the 1980s; Ed Sr. remained working with his sons until he died in 2014.