NOTHING BREAKS DOWN SOCIAL apprehension and signals hospitality like the phrase, “Let me get you a drink” – especially if it happens to be a beer or a glass of wine. Setting aside alcohol’s almost unmatched ability to embolden decision-making, bar areas in jewelry stores have a host of benefits from encouraging customers to relax and linger to making a purchase feel more special and celebratory, while also fostering an emotional connection with the jeweler. Here are how some of the best jewelers in the land have raised a glass — and the bar — to hospitality.
Meet on the Mezzanine
Brockhaus owners Brad Shipman and John Brockhaus wanted their new Norman, OK, store to serve as a community hub. Their “mezzanine” — a large space overlooking the retail floor with comfortable furniture, a giant TV wall, conference table, and separate wet bar — is central to that, used for sales events, bridal showers, and game days. Shipman says that he likes to think of the words of the late poet Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Bar With a View
Few things are as enjoyable as watching others labor over the rim of a drink. Thanks to the store’s plethora of glass walls, the marble-topped bar at Rumanoff’s Jewelers in Hamden, CT, “stocked with almost every libation” allows such a view, enabling customers to observe and appreciate the store’s bench jewelers toiling happily in the shop.
The Inner Circle
Since opening its doors in 1837 when Chicago was a dusty town of 4,000 people, CD Peacock has learned a thing or two about providing an enjoyable jewelry retail experience. So when it launched its new 20,900-square foot flagship store, The CD Peacock Mansion at Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook, IL, a bar was always going to be part of the formula. In line with the building’s architectural curves, a circular bar provides “a comfortable haven for relaxation and conversation,” says owner Steven Holtzman. The beverage menu boasts an extensive array of cocktails, mocktails and flavored lemonades with gemstone-inspired names. It’s all about an elevated hospitality experience, “whether seated at the bar or, having a cocktail delivered to you, or shopping in a private area lounging on sumptuous furniture surrounded by art,” says Holtzman.
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Under the Tower
Bathed in natural light from the windows above and comprised of high-top seating for six, fully stocked beverage fridges, a moonstone tile backsplash and fireplace, family sports memorabilia, and a TV for live sports, the bar area at Don Basch Jewelers in Macedonia, OH, is “the perfect spot to gather for family chats, all-staff meetings, and to catch up with customers, many of whom are also great friends,” says store manager Dustin Basch.
Where Everyone Knows Your Name
“From the moment our customers step through the door, we want them to feel pampered and valued,” says Ryan Berg, owner, and president at Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. The goal is to ensure that every visit is a memorable experience. At their new Alamo Quarry Market location in San Antonio, TX, they’ve taken this commitment to the next level with a “custom hospitality bar” serving everything from sparkling water to champagne. “But it’s not just about the libations; it’s about fostering a sense of community and camaraderie,” says Berg. In support of this cause, Lee Michaels partnered with a local whisky company, Maverick, to host “Maverick Mondays”—a whisky-tasting event that invites customers to explore new flavors and mingle with fellow aficionados. “Whether it’s discussing the latest timepieces with a trusted sales associate or simply catching up over a drink, we want our customers to feel at home here,” says Berg.
