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JB Hudson To Close Minneapolis Flagship After 136 Years
Dwindling foot traffic in the downtown area as workers stay remote was a deciding factor.
JB Hudson Jewelers was founded in 1885 by Josiah B. Hudson. The store will close by the end of the year after 136 years in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis—JB Hudson Jewelers is closing its iconic flagship store in downtown Minneapolis by the end of the year after 136 years.
Founded in 1885 by Josiah B. Hudson, the jeweler has occupied several locations over the years, always remaining in the area.
It also changed hands several times over the years, surviving many new owners and a fire.
JB Hudson was acquired by family-owned jeweler Gunderson’s in March 2021 for an undisclosed price.
At the time, a spokesperson told National Jeweler the store would continue to operate as JB Hudson Jewelers “for the near future.”
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However, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on, plans changed.
Breanne Demers, president of Gunderson's, told the Star Tribune that a lack of workers downtown due to remote work put a major dent in foot traffic, affecting several area businesses.
The store is set to close by Dec. 31 and the company will move the JB Hudson staff and its inventory to a new store, operating under the Gunderson brand by February, about 10 miles outside of Minneapolis in Wayzata.
Though its flagship will close, the JB Hudson name will still live on via a counter inside men’s clothing boutique MartinPatrick3 in the city’s North Loop neighborhood.
Demers also said the company is on the lookout for a new location to relaunch the brand’s name, possibly downtown, and may make an announcement by mid-to-late 2022.
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