JB Hudson Jewelers, which has operated in downtown Minneapolis for 136 years, will close its doors.
Its last day in business at the Nicollet Avenue site will be Dec. 31, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
But that’s not the end of the story for the store or its employees. Gunderson’s Jewelers will move the workers to a new location it’s opening in Wayzata. The new store will operate under the Gunderson’s name.
Reduced walk-in traffic due to the work-from-home policies adopted by many downtown companies was a factor in the closing, Breanne Demers, president of Gunderson’s, told the newspaper.
Gunderson’s acquired JB Hudson in March from the Pohlad Cos. Gunderson’s is a family-owned jewelry retailer that also operates stores in Sioux City, IA; Omaha, NE; Sioux Falls, SD; and Fargo, ND.
Gunderson’s plans to keep the JB Hudson name alive. It’s reportedly looking in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area for a site to relaunch the brand, and a downtown location is a possibility.
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Read more at the Minneapolis Star Tribune
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.
