He’s continuing a family tradition.
Jacob Ripa closed his Hazleton, PA, jewelry store and moved away 14 years ago.
Now, he’s back.
The former city councilman, who has worked in New York, is opening a new store in town, continuing his family’s longstanding tradition in the business, the Standard-Speaker reports. The original Ripa Jewelers was started in 1949 by Ripa’s father, named Jacob, and uncle Al.
The new business was set to open this week.
During his time away, Ripa held various roles in the jewelry industry. He’s currently a partner in a diamond company.
In 2016 he developed a fine jewelry section for a department store in New York.
Advertisement
“I thought, if I’m building somebody else’s …,” he said, according to the Standard-Speaker.
This store will be smaller than his old one, and he’ll sell diamonds mainly by appointments.
Read more at the Standard-Speaker
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.
