Independents

A Jewelry Store That Opened in 1832 Is Closing

IndependentsMay 21, 2019

A Jewelry Store That Opened in 1832 Is Closing

Cornwell Jewelers is located in Athens, a small town in southeast Ohio that’s home to Ohio University.

20190521_Cornwell_header.jpg
Cornwell Jewelers is located on Court Street in Athens, Ohio, home to Ohio University. It will close this summer after 187 years in business. Pictured above is a 1967 Cadillac the Cornwell family bought in 2007 and painted purple to attract customers.
Athens, Ohio—As a kid, Kris Cornwell liked getting jewelry as a gift but didn’t frequent her family’s Athens, Ohio jewelry store, save for some afternoons spent eating pizza in the back of the shop.

She and her sister would “go uptown”—local vernacular for visiting the town’s main drag, Court Street—to shop and catch a matinee before popping into her grandfather’s store with a slice.

Cornwell said she never really considered jewelry as a career, staying local to go to college—she earned a bachelor’s and a master’s from Ohio University, the heartbeat of this small southeast Ohio town—and majoring in education.

But when she completed her master’s in 1994, there came a request: Her mom, Connie Cornwell, asked her to put in a few months at the jewelry store that her family still owned but, at that time, employed no family members.

Cornwell initially said no but eventually relented.

“Probably, I’m a people-pleaser,” she allows. “They asked me and it’s hard to say ‘no’ to your parents when they’ve done so much for you.”

She started working at Cornwell Jewelers in August 1994, learning under the longtime manager until October, when that longtime manager suddenly quit and “really left me kind of holding the bag,” Cornwell said.

She wasn’t going to walk out on a business that, at that point in time, had been in her family for 150-plus years. So she stayed, eventually earning her registered jeweler (RJ) certification from the American Gem Society and attending more than a half-dozen Conclave events in order to learn about the business.

She called the knowledge gained at those annual events a “pivotal part” of her career, a career that was supposed to last about six months but has spanned 25 years.

John Cornwell opened Cornwell Jewelers in 1832, one year after he arrived in Athens to go to college. (Ohio University was founded in 1804 and is the oldest college in Ohio.)

It celebrates its 187th birthday this year and bills itself as the country’s second-oldest family-owned jewelry store.

Kris Cornwell represents the sixth generation involved in the operation of the store, and moved it from South Court Street to its current location, 77 N. Court St., in 2002. The building, she said, dates to the early 1900s and originally was a Pure Oil gas station. 

Cornwell was adamant about keeping the store on Court Street, which is lined with college book stores, restaurants and more than its fair share of bars, but chose to move it to a freestanding building that included a parking lot. 

Seventeen years later, she knows she needs to move again to survive but just doesn’t want to start all over again, for what she described as a “perfect storm” of reasons. 

Kris Cornwell in her jewelry store with daughters Ava (left) and HaydenFirst, the business has changed.
Kris Cornwell in her jewelry store with daughters Ava (left) and HaydenFirst, the business has changed.

There is competition from online sellers, which, Cornwell says, has her working harder than ever to stay on top of things and has cut into the business the store does with OU’s 23,000 undergrads. 

There also has been a shift in the brick-and-mortar makeup of Court Street. 

 
Many retail shops that cater to local residents (meaning non-students) have closed or moved to other parts of Athens as the main drag has become more student-centric, and more congested when school is in session. “Coming to Court Street is much more of a challenge than it used to be,” she said.

She knows she would have to move her store off Court Street, where it has been since its founding, to continue but just can’t picture the store anywhere else. 

Secondly, three of the five daughters she and her husband have combined are getting ready to leave Athens, which made her reconsider her future, particularly in terms of time and stress. 

She also suffered two personal losses last summer that took a toll. 

In August, longtime employee Eric Coon, who retired from the store a couple years ago, died suddenly of a heart attack. The following day, she lost her brother-in-law to cancer. 

“I love my store but I’ve come to a crossroads and have had to make a really hard decision. I still get upset when customers are sad—it makes me sad,” Cornwell said, her voice breaking. “But I know it’s right and I know I don’t have it in me to move and open another location.

“I don’t want to start again.” 

The going-out-of-business sale at Cornwell Jewelers began in late April with postcards mailed to VIP customers to let them know the store would be shutting down. 

Cornwell said it will continue through mid-summer or until all the merchandise is sold. 

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.

The Latest

Fabergé Beetlejuice Beetlejuice jewelry collection
CollectionsSep 06, 2024
The ‘Fabergé x Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Collection is Scary Chic

It’s showtime for these jewels, inspired by the motifs and color palette of the new Tim Burton film.

Movado Connect 2.0 watches
FinancialsSep 06, 2024
Movado Lowers Guidance as Q2 Sales Slip

CEO Efraim Grinberg pointed to a challenging consumer spending environment, particularly in the watch category.

Lizzie Mandler’s Liquid Gold Hoops
CollectionsSep 06, 2024
Piece of the Week: Lizzie Mandler’s ‘Liquid Gold’ Hoops

Inspired by a 19th century sculpture, Mandler transformed gold into liquid for these earrings.

How to Increase Instagram Followers Naturally in 2024 2.0 (1).jpg
Brought to you by
How to Increase Instagram Followers Naturally in 2024

Growing your Instagram following organically is more important than ever in today's technological environment.

Bella Hadid in Chopard Campaigns
CollectionsSep 05, 2024
Bella Hadid Is Chopard’s New Brand Ambassador

The model and entrepreneur stars in two new Chopard campaigns.

Weekly QuizSep 05, 2024
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Nordstrom men’s store New York City
MajorsSep 05, 2024
Nordstrom Family Offers to Buy Namesake Retailer for $3.8B

Members of the founding family partnered with Mexican retail company El Puerto de Liverpool to possibly take Nordstrom private.

Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Bone cuff
MajorsSep 05, 2024
Tiffany & Co. Celebrates Elsa Peretti’s Bone Cuff

The iconic design has joined a lineup of notable pieces featured in the jeweler’s “With Love, Since 1837” campaign.

Supplier Spotlight -Recorded-Webinar.png
Brought to you by
Watch: Natural Diamonds: A Great (but Often Untold) Geology Story

Supplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA.

New Cadar CEO Ralph Simons
MajorsSep 05, 2024
Former Chopard, Frederique Constant Executive Tapped to Head Cadar

Ralph Simons is now CEO of the jewelry brand started by fashion designer Michal Kadar and her husband, Avraham Kadar, in 2015.

National Jeweler columnists Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams
ColumnistsSep 04, 2024
Creative Connecting: Why ‘Experience Content’ Matters

Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen say it’s all about giving your social media feeds a human touch.

 Models Taylor Hill and Soo Joo Park wearing Messika jewelry
TrendsSep 04, 2024
Taylor Hill, Soo Joo Park Star in New Messika Campaign

The models and friends of founder and artistic designer Valérie Messika showcase the brand’s jewelry in the “Back to Icons” campaign.

Bloomingdale’s From Italy, With Love campaign
MajorsSep 04, 2024
Bloomingdale’s to Highlight Italian Jewelry in New Campaign

“From Italy, With Love” will showcase Roberto Coin, Marco Bicego, and other Italian brands.

Zales tennis necklace over Prince tennis racket
CollectionsSep 03, 2024
Zales, Prince Debut US Open-Inspired Collection

The jewelry retailer will also have a diamond-set tennis racket on display at the tournament.

Suzanne Kalan
TrendsSep 03, 2024
Amanda’s Style File: Sapphires for September

The month’s birthstone is vibrant in every color.

Breitling watches
WatchesAug 30, 2024
Breitling Marks 140 Years With Special Editions of 3 Classic Watches

The special editions of the Premier, Navitimer, and Chronomat are equipped with a new perpetual calendar movement from the brand.

K. Brunini Jewel’s Butterfly Ring
CollectionsAug 30, 2024
Piece of the Week: K. Brunini Jewels’ Butterfly Ring

Fly away with designer Katey Brunini’s butterfly ring, as its spring-loaded wings flutter above your fingers.

Brilliant Earth showroom Roosevelt Field mall
MajorsAug 29, 2024
Brilliant Earth Promotes Two Executives to C-Suite Roles

The jewelry retailer has a new chief brand officer and chief operations officer.

JA Multifaceted Learning Workshop
MajorsAug 29, 2024
JA Takes Its Learning Workshops to Washington D.C., New York

Its next event will take place in D.C. on Sept. 17 and in New York City on Oct. 29.

Broken Bangle jade nomenclature book Lotus Gemology
SourcingAug 29, 2024
Lotus Gemology Publishes Book on Jade History

“Broken Bangle: The Blunder-Besmirched History of Jade Nomenclature” is an in-depth look at the evolution of jade terminology.

Titan Company Ltd. executive Ajoy Chawla and De Beers Group executive Sandrine Conseiller
SourcingAug 29, 2024
De Beers Looks to India to Boost Demand for Natural Diamonds

It is partnering with retailer Tanishq on educating salespeople, shaping the in-store experience, and a “360-degree” marketing campaign.

Woman shopping
SurveysAug 28, 2024
Consumer Confidence Rises in August Despite Labor Market Worries

Inflation remained a top concern among survey-takers who included write-in responses.

A person wearing the Ultrahuman Ring Air smart ring while holding a cell phone
TechnologyAug 28, 2024
Verizon Throws Its Hat in the Ring on Smart Rings

The wireless carrier is now stocking the Ultrahuman Ring Air in select U.S. stores.

Rings and a necklace from Pamela Love Jardin collection
CollectionsAug 28, 2024
Pamela Love’s ‘Jardin’ Collection Is Filled With Lush Green Emeralds

In a collaboration with Muzo, Pamela Love hand-selected each Colombian emerald for eight one-of-a-kind pieces.

Stuller headquarters
MajorsAug 28, 2024
Stuller Named ‘Great Place to Work’

The certification is based on employee responses about their experience working at a company.

Stock image of loose polished diamonds
Policies & IssuesAug 27, 2024
US to Allow Import of ‘Legacy’ Diamonds From Russia

OFAC has issued two licenses addressing the issue, one for diamond-set jewelry and one for loose diamonds.

Man at International Gemological Institute microscope
GradingAug 27, 2024
IGI Files for IPO in India

The gemological lab is looking to raise up to $477 million.

Earrings by Olga Shatrova
Events & AwardsAug 27, 2024
Here Are the Winners of the 2024 CASE Awards

The annual jewelry design competition celebrates creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.

×

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