Long-time downtown Windsor businessman Jack Shanfield has died.

Jack Shanfield's china shop, Shanfields-Meyers, is a local institution at the corner of Ouellette Avenue and Chatham Street.

'So right to the end, he was basically fighting for downtown and the city.'—Larry Horwitz, friend

Shanfield and his wife, Lina, opened the store in 1945.

Chris Edwards of the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association said Shanfield's death is the "end of an era."

Shanfields-Meyers China Shop in downtown Windsor is packed to the rafters with china and collectibles. (CBC)For more than six decades the couple ran a store that earned praise from local business leaders like Larry Horwitz.

"Somebody who fought for downtown, was a spokesman for downtown, wanted diversity in the core, which meant a person that fought for retail, for a better downtown," said Horwitz, who was also Shanfield's friend.

Fell twice in recent months

Shanfield died Wednesday in hospital after having broken his hip. He had fallen twice in the past few months.

Jack and Lina Shanfield opened their store in 1945. Jack Shanfield worked until just weeks before his death Wednesday at the age of 86. (CBC)"You know, I wanted to see how he was, his health and that," said Horwitz.

"But all he could talk about was the left turn lane off of Wyandotte on to Ouellette and parking in the downtown core. So right to the end, he was basically fighting for downtown and the city."

Shanfield was 86 years old.

He is survived by his wife, two daughters and one son, two grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Shanfield's funeral will be held at Rachel Kaplan Hebrew Memorial Chapel at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.