Independents

Fox’s Seattle to Close After 112 Years

IndependentsFeb 07, 2024

Fox’s Seattle to Close After 112 Years

The Emerald City mainstay is hosting its final Leap Year Sale beginning this month.

Chai Mann and Zoey Mann
Fox’s Seattle third-generation owner Zoey Mann (right) has announced that the store will close in April after more than a century in business. She’s pictured above in a 2014 portrait with her father, second-generation owner Chai Mann.
Seattle—After 112 years in business, Fox’s Seattle will close its doors April 27 following a special sale.

Third-generation owner Zoey Mann has been the store’s president since 2013 and is closing the business to turn her time and energy to her family, which she calls “her own greatest love.”

The boutique has been a mainstay for Seattleites seeking “exquisitely crafted” jewelry as a reminder of a special moment or reflection of their individual style, the store said.

Harry Fox started the business in 1912 as Fox’s Gem Shop, a small store on Third Avenue.

It later was sold to a man named Herb Meltzer. Meltzer moved the store to The Skinner Building on Fifth Avenue and hired Mann’s maternal grandfather, Sid Thal, as store manager.

Thal bought the store in 1948 for $15,000, plus some money he borrowed from family.

The family kept the store’s name because they couldn’t afford to paint the sign on the door.


Fox’s Seattle staff in 1959
Fox’s staff photo from 1959, when the dress code called for women to wear black dresses and pearls and men to wear suits. Sid Thal is in the back right.

In 1979, the store moved again, opening in the then-newly completed Rainier Tower, where store management soon changed hands to Sid and Berta Thal’s daughter Joy and her husband, Chai Mann.

The couple helped develop the store’s reputation for its award-winning, creative window displays, which have been a Seattle holiday favorite for more than 30 years.

In 2003, the Mann’s daughter Zoey returned to the store.


Chai Mann, Zoey Mann, Berta Thal, Sid Thal, Zach Mann, and Joy Thal Mann
This photo, taken in the late 1980s, shows (left to right) Chai Mann, Zoey Mann, Berta Thal, Sid Thal, Zach Mann, and Joy Thal Mann crossing Union Street just outside the Fox’s Seattle (then Fox’s Gem Shop) location at the time, in the Rainier Tower.

In 2014, a year after Zoey was named president, Fox’s Gem Shop was renamed Fox’s Seattle. 

In 2017, the store moved to its current and final location in the Fairmount Olympic Hotel.

“Closing Fox’s Seattle has been a difficult decision, but it is the right decision,” Zoey said. 

“Fox’s Seattle has been part of my family for 75 years. The store has been a second home, and we are forever grateful to the employees, designers, and customers who have joined us on our journey.”

Over the years, the store has fostered a family-like atmosphere, it said, providing the local and regional community with a “highly curated” assortment of designers and one-of-a-kind pieces. 

Its downtown boutique was distinguished by its “high-touch, low-pressure” buying experience that focused on exceptional service and a well-considered selection.

Fox’s Seattle also has been active in its community, donating to Vashon Island arts organizations, Northwest Harvest, the Pike Place Market Foundation, Mary’s Place, Jewish Family Services, the Seattle Symphony, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, among others.

“The people have always been at the heart of Fox’s Seattle, and I will miss them most of all,” said Zoey, who had hoped to sell the business so that it could continue in its long tradition. 

“Unfortunately, the business climate has changed dramatically in recent years, and a sale has not yet proven viable. Our focus is now on winding down our operations.”

The store remains available for sale, and Zoey is open to entertaining options should they arise. 

As of now, all three of the store’s full-time associates have been offered severance packages.

 Related stories will be right here … 

Sales have been rare throughout the store’s history, making its recurring Leap Year Sale—a decades-long fixture of the business—a highly anticipated event for regular clientele. 

The store will pay tribute to its final Leap Day with “The Final Leap: A Celebration Sale,” offering discounts that will increase as the shop approaches its April closing date.


Sid Thal and Chai Mann
Employees of Fox’s Seattle have had a longstanding tradition of cutting a necktie after making a big sale. On the day this photo was taken in 1986, Sid Thal had closed a huge sale so Chai Mann grabbed the scissors and cut his tie.

“We couldn’t close our doors without one last celebration for our customers and designers,” Zoey said.

“Our Leap Year Sale will look a little different this time, as it will be our last hurrah. Of course, we’ll offer discounts similar to past sales, but the discounts should grow deeper as we approach our closing date. Because we have a number of one-of-a-kind items and we will not be placing any further orders, we encourage customers to come in early to find the pieces that speak to them.”

The sale will begin in-store only on at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29, and will continue until all inventory is sold or the doors close at 5 p.m. on April 27.

The sale will start online after March 4.

Throughout the sale, Fox’s Seattle will be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is located at 405 University St. in Seattle, at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. 

The Latest

Stock image of police cars with their lights on
CrimeMay 23, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in Burglaries

JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

Bliss Lau Bright Ring
CollectionsMay 23, 2025
Piece of the Week: Bliss Lau’s ‘Bright’ Ring

From Lau’s “Love of a Kind” series, the engagement ring was inspired by the moon and holds a different meaning depending on how it is worn.

GIA pearl report
GradingMay 23, 2025
GIA Updates Pearl Classification System

The lab has adjusted the scale it uses for nacre grading.

antique_Vegas_2024_by_headshot_stories_9454.jpg
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the Globe

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

GCALbySarine Diamond Journey Certificate_1872x1052.jpg
Supplier BulletinMay 22, 2025
How to Put Natural Diamonds Back in the Spotlight

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine

Weekly QuizMay 22, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
The late West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger
CrimeMay 22, 2025
NY Jeweler Sentenced in Shoving Death of Colleague at IJO Show

David Walton will serve three years’ probation after an incident in a hotel bar led to the death of West Virginia jeweler David Ettinger.

Watches of Switzerland store in Mall of America
FinancialsMay 22, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s Full-Year U.S. Sales Climb 14%

The retailer also provided an update on how the tariffs situation in the U.S. is affecting its business.

Supplier Spotlight -Recorded-Webinar.png
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest Addition

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA

Jose Hess Design Awards 2025 Trophy
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2025
Jose Hess Design Awards Announce Judges

The nonprofit elected five judges who will decide the winners of its design competition.

MJSA 2025-2026 Buyer’s Guide
MajorsMay 22, 2025
MJSA Releases 2025-2026 Buyer’s Guide

This year’s edition includes articles on the favorite tools of notable designers, evaluating when to outsource production, and more.

Bulgari Invisible Violet Necklace and Rainbow Flow Necklace
CollectionsMay 21, 2025
Bulgari Highlights Its Colorful Past in Phenomenal ‘Polychroma’ Collection

The jeweler’s high jewelry collection features extraordinary gemstones, like a 241.06-carat emerald and the world’s fourth-largest spinel.

Industry analyst Edahn Golan
ColumnistsMay 21, 2025
Edahn’s Take: Analyzing the 2025 ‘$100 Million Supersellers’ List

In a special column for the State of the Majors, Edahn Golan breaks down what the top-performing fine jewelry sellers are doing right.

Beyoncé bolo tie necklace
MajorsMay 21, 2025
Beyoncé Dons Brilliant Earth Necklace During Cowboy Carter Tour

The bolo tie necklace is inspired by “Queen Bey” and set with a nearly 15-carat black diamond.

Gem Legacy logo
SourcingMay 21, 2025
Gem Legacy Expands Advisory Council

The nonprofit focused on mining communities in East Africa has added three new members to its advisory council.

Annie Doresca
MajorsMay 20, 2025
Annie Doresca to Lead DCA as New CEO, President

Current Diamond Council of America President and CEO Terry Chandler is set to retire in January 2026.

QVC Group logo
FinancialsMay 20, 2025
QVC Group to Voluntarily Delist from Nasdaq

The company's Series A shares will continue to trade following a reverse stock split while its Series B shares will be delisted.

National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith
ColumnistsMay 20, 2025
Peter Smith: Leading Through Change

Communicating clearly with your staff is key to navigating turbulent times, writes columnist Peter Smith.

Exterior of Tanishq Santa Clara Storefront
MajorsMay 20, 2025
Tanishq Opens Seventh U.S. Store

Tanishq is expanding its presence in the United States with a new store in Santa Clara, California, which is its largest in the country.

New Cartier store at Los Angeles airport
FinancialsMay 19, 2025
Jewelry Sales a Standout for Richemont in 2024

Sales for Richemont’s four jewelry brands increased 8 percent, while watch sales picked up toward the end of the year.

Instappraise and NAJA logos
Events & AwardsMay 19, 2025
NAJA Opens Scholarship Applications for 2025

Two scholarships are available, one for new and non-members and another for NAJA certified members.

Day’s Jeweler’s Tuscan Village Location Painting
IndependentsMay 19, 2025
Day’s Jewelers to Open Ninth Location

The retailer’s new flagship is set to open in October at the Tuscan Village development in Salem, New Hampshire.

Gemfields emeralds, rubies, sapphires
SourcingMay 19, 2025
State of Colored Stones: The Big Three in the Modern World

Sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are finding their place in a U.S. market captivated by the gemstones once referred to as “semi-precious.”

Saks on Amazon flagship window
MajorsMay 16, 2025
Saks Fifth Avenue, Amazon Partner on Luxury Online Storefront

Plus, parent company Saks Global announces plans to cut ties with up to 600 vendors.

Graphic for My Next Question webinar with guest Peter Smith
Recorded WebinarsMay 16, 2025
Watch: Physical Retail Is Not Dead

Peter Smith joined Michelle Graff to chat about the state of brick-and-mortar stores and share a few book and podcast recommendations.

Tejen Candy Bowl Torque Necklace
CollectionsMay 16, 2025
Piece of the Week: Tejen’s ‘Candy Bowl’ Torque Necklace

The necklace features a candy-colored Australian white opal in 18-karat Fairmined gold, as the brand was named a Fairmined ambassador.

1 Camilla Dietz Bergeron.jpg
Supplier BulletinMay 15, 2025
Treasure Hunting at the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show

Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show

The Mediterranean Blue diamond
AuctionsMay 15, 2025
'The Mediterranean Blue' Diamond Sells for $21M at Sotheby’s

A private American collector purchased the 10-carat fancy vivid blue diamond.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy