Here’s a sneak preview of the winners of INSTORE’s eighth annual "America’s Coolest Stores" contest. Winners will be featured in the August edition of INSTORE. But visitors to INSTOREMAG.COM can get an advance look at the winners, including many more photos of each store and other exclusive online content.
Congratulations to our winners, both big and small. You now officially rank among America’s very coolest stores. Thanks also to the more than 100 stores who entered this year’s contest. (The decisions were tougher this year than ever, judges said. So if you didn’t win, please try again next year.) And thanks to our superb judges for all the time they spent working with us on this year’s contest.
ONLINE ONLY! See group editorial director David Squires congratulate the winning stores on video.
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1st Place
BIG COOL
London Jewelers
Manhasset, NY
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
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SMALL COOL
Zoltan David
Bee Cave, TX
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
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2nd Place
BIG COOL
Hyde Park Jewelers
Phoenix, AZ
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
SMALL COOL
Patronik Designs and Jewelry Gallery
Burlingame, CA
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
3rd Place
BIG COOL
Ylang|23
Dallas, TX
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
SMALL COOL
The Green Bull Fine Jewelry Couture
Boerne, TX
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
4th Place
BIG COOL
Diana Vincent Jewelry Designs
Washington Crossing, PA
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
SMALL COOL
Spexton
Tulsa, OK
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
5th Place
BIG COOL
Manfredi Jewels
Greenwich, CT
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
SMALL COOL
Dumont Estate Jewelry
New York, NY
Photo Gallery | Story | Judges’ Comments
Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration
After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years."
Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations.
The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.
