Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
IndependentsAug 05, 2019
Jewelers Uncork New Opportunities
A handful of retailers are lending their talents to the wine and spirits industry. We talked to them about their side businesses for a special feature in our Retailer Hall of Fame issue.
Padis Vineyards, located in the heart of California’s Napa Valley, is owned by jewelers Steve and Judy Padis.
The Chevy Chase Inn in Lexington, Kentucky, opened its doors in December 1933, just as Prohibition was coming to an end.
Click here to read the full story in the Retailer Hall of Fame issue.
Over the years, the bar solidified its spot as the local watering hole, welcoming generation after generation into its low-key, homestyle atmosphere.
It was even immortalized in a 2013 book titled “Chevy Chase Inn: Tall Tales and Cold Ales From Lexington’s Oldest Bar,” which chronicled its history and shared tales from local patrons.
True to its Kentucky heritage, the inn serves up all types of bourbon, even hosting a “Pappy Thanksgiving” every fall to give customers a chance to try top-shelf Pappy Van Winkle bourbon at cost.
Like so many well-loved, historic spots across America, though, the old bar eventually found itself at risk of being bulldozed for new development until three men—including one jeweler—stepped in to save it.
In 2015, Bill Farmer, owner of Farmer’s Jewelry, and two of his friends, bought the 85-year-old bar, saving it from turning into a run-of-the-mill retail space.
Like the Chevy Chase Inn, Farmer’s Jewelry has been stitched into Lexington’s neighborhood fabric since 1950, when his father opened the store on the same block of Euclid Avenue as the inn and a row of retail shops, including the city’s oldest flower shop.
“We approached buying Chevy Chase Inn as a chance to save something,” says Farmer, who felt the destruction of the bar would “ruin a lot of memories for a lot of people.”
The Chevy Chase Inn, which opened in 1933, recently got a new neon sign that’s a replica of the original thanks to a Kickstarter campaign.
The jeweler, who also serves as a Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council member, was already wearing many hats before deciding to move into the bar business.
“Retail drives you to drink,” says Farmer, with a hearty laugh.
In all seriousness, though, he notes that both his jewelry business and his bar business have something in common—they are there for people to celebrate and commemorate happy occasions.
Lessons learned as a jeweler carry over to his bar business, says Farmer, particularly the art of listening.
“If you can listen in retail, you can learn what the customer wants. Same in the bar.”
For jewelers looking to branch out into other areas, Farmer advises looking for an opportunity (like he had) within an existing local business or interest and being ready when that opportunity presents itself.
He warns against stretching oneself too thin or jumping too hastily into the unknown.
In the Heart of California Wine Country
For California jewelers Steve and Judy Padis, opportunity presented itself in 2004. They purchased property in the Oak Knoll region of California, which is located about an hour north of San Francisco in Napa County, and slowly began building out Padis Vineyards over 15 acres.
The couple owns and operates a handful of Padis Jewelry locations around the San Francisco Bay area but also are longtime wine collectors, amassing a stash of more than 10,000 bottles.
It was Judy who introduced her husband to the world of wine during the couple’s dates in Napa Valley.
“I had never really experienced wine tasting,” Steve admits. “It became a passion and as soon as we could afford it, we decided we were going to make our own wines.”
The Padises had their first vintage in 2008 with the help of master winemaker Robert Foley.
“If someone asks me what I do I say, ‘I do diamonds and wine.’” — Steve Padis, Padis Jewelry and Padis Vineyards
Currently, Padis Vineyards produces around 3,000 cases of wine per year, mostly red wine from their homegrown red grapes. About 10 percent of their production is chardonnay, which is made from grapes they’ve purchased.
Their inner jeweler shines through on their wine labels, with a cabernet dubbed “Brilliance” and a blend of cabernet sauvignon and syrah called “Sintilation.” (And, no, that is not a typo.)
“If someone asks me what I do I say, ‘I do diamonds and wine,’” Steve says.
The vineyard is situated between Napa’s warm upper valley and the cooler Los Carneros region to the south, just about an hour away from the couple’s San Francisco stores.
The seasonality of the wine business works in the Padises’ favor, slowing down as the jewelry business revs up in November and December.
The two worlds meet often, says Steve, with a lot of jewelry customers visiting the winery and vice versa. The couple has even held master classes at the winery, giving people a view of picturesque Napa Valley while they examine another natural beauty—the diamond.
European Winemaking in Western Pennsylvania
For jeweler Tom Glatz, the opportunity to branch out into the alcohol business came knocking at the back door.
The tasting room for Glatz Wine Cellars operates out of the rear of Glatz Jewelers in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, a small town about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.
Though the winery began in 2000, Glatz’s roots in winemaking go way back.
“People ask me how long I’ve been making wine. Longer than jewelry, I tell them,” he says, noting that his family has been making wine in Europe, mainly in Germany and France, for more than 200 years.
The Glatzes’ vineyard spans six acres on the family farm in Hopewell Township, just a few miles from their jewelry store in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.
It’s still a family affair for Glatz, who operates the winery and jewelry store—which opened in 1976—with his wife Marlene, and his sons, Aaron (who makes the wine), and Dale (who repairs the jewelry).
The vineyard is just a few miles away from the store, spanning six acres on the family’s farm in neighboring Hopewell Township.
As with the Padises, the jeweler’s touch is apparent upon reading the wine list at Glatz, with bottles bearing names such as “Amethyst,” “Tanzanite,” “Topaz” and “Chocolate Diamond.”
The store and the winery flow seamlessly into each other. Customers often grab a glass to sample from the winery in the back, then step out onto the patio (located off the side of the store) to inspect potential jewelry purchases in the natural light.
The winery also doubles as an event space for local charities and fundraisers, which, in turn, helps to bring more attention to the jewelry business.
From Silicon to Napa Valley
While jewelers-turned-vintners have uncorked an additional revenue stream that pairs nicely with their stores, a small-production winery comes with its own challenges, says Carole Lawson, CEO of the Salem, Oregon-based Craft Wine Association.
Some of these challenges are unique to wine-making, while others will sound familiar to retailers, including: How do I entice people to buy what I’m selling?
There are tools and algorithms available to get a ballpark figure on what it costs to open a winery, but Lawson suggests adding 20 to 30 percent on top of that, accounting for weather and operating requirements that can vary by state.
“There’s a fantasy about what it’s like [to own a vineyard.] You don’t think about the pruning, the planting, the pests and the weather that can impact the production of the grapes themselves.” — Carole Lawson, Craft Wine Association
Glatz estimates he sank about $250,000 into producing his first bottle.
And, although the family has been making wine since 1980, it took the Glatzes years before they were able to sell their first bottle, due in part to Pennsylvania’s particularly strict alcohol laws.
After an arduous licensing process, including several attempts at getting their bottle labels approved, the Glatzes began marketing their wine in 2007.
Glatz once thought he would retire to his winery—a relaxing respite after years in the stressful world of retail—but has since thought better of it after learning first-hand what goes into the day-to-day operations of a vineyard.
“It’s a lot of work, about 14 hours a day,” says Glatz, who relies on his son and master winemaker Aaron and employees to do the manual labor.
“There’s a fantasy about what it’s like,” says the Craft Wine Association’s Lawson. “You don’t think about the pruning, the planting, the pests and the weather that can impact the production of the grapes themselves.”
The biggest challenge to operating a winery, she says, is being realistic.
One can buy a vineyard or buy grapes, press them, and bottle the wine with beautiful labels, but the real challenge is marketing it and getting people to buy it.
Still, Lawson, who spent decades working in Silicon Valley before “flunking out of retirement” and starting the Craft Wine Association, understands what draws people from other industries to wine.
“There is a romance about the wine industry,” she says, noting its similarity to jewelry in this way. “The marketers have done a great job of making it feel opulent and [giving it] a sense of having arrived.”
—Fashion Editor Ashley Davis contributed to this story.
More on Independents
The Latest
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.
