dʒˈeɪ sˈiː wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː baɪ swˈɪs ˈɪmɪɡɹənt dʒˈɑːn sˈiː. ɡɹˈaʊb, hˈuː, wɪð hɪz wˈaɪf ᵻlˈɪzəbəθ, ˈoʊpənd ðə tʃˈeɪnz fˈɜːst stˈoːɹ ˌɔn sˈaʊθ tʃˈɛstnʌt stɹˈiːt ɪnðə sˈɪɾi ʌv sˈiːmoːɹ.
JayC was founded in 1863 by Swiss immigrant John C. Groub, who, with his wife Elizabeth, opened the chain's first store on South Chestnut Street in the city of Seymour.