Headlines

JB Hudson Jewelers in Minneapolis to Close After 136 Years in Business

Its owner will open a new store under a different name.

Published

3 years ago

September 13, 2021

INSTORE Staff

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.

Read more at the Minneapolis Star Tribune

You Wouldn’t Cut Your Own Hair. Why Run Your Own Retirement Sale?

After being in business for over a quarter of a century, Wayne Reid, owner of Wayne Jewelers in Wayne, Pennsylvania, decided it was time for a little “me time.” He says, “I’ve reached a point in my life where it’s time to slow down, enjoy a lot of things outside of the jewelry industry. It just seemed to be the right time.” He chose Wilkerson to handle his retirement sale because of their reputation and results. With financial goals exceeded, Reid says he made the right choice selecting Wilkerson to handle the sale. “They made every effort to push our jewelry to the forefront of the showcases,” he says, lauding Wilkerson for their finesse and expertise. Would he recommend them to other jewelers who want to make room for new merchandise, expand their business or like him, decide to call it a day? Absolutely he says, equating trying to do this kind of sale with cutting your own hair. “The results are going to happen but not as well as if you have a professional like Wilkerson do the job for you.”