Pittsburgh Jeweler Elevates Store to Reflect Luxury Reputation

Henne Jewelers, Pittsburgh, PA

OWNERS: John & Dara Henne; URL: hennejewelers.com; FOUNDED: 1887; Opened featured location: 2024; EMPLOYEES: 40; AREA: 15,000 square feet; ARCHITECT AND DESIGN: E/Line Architecture, Desmone Architects; TOP BRANDS: Rolex, Tudor, Grand Seiko, Tag Heuer, Mark Patterson, Precision Set, Monica Rich Kosann, Nanis; online presence: 4.9 Stars with 1,126 Google reviews; 11,500 Instagram followers

John & Dara Henne

SINCE FOURTH-GENERATION jeweler John Henne joined the family business 33 years ago, he made great strides in elevating all aspects of Henne Jewelers, prioritizing bridal, moving into the luxury watch market and nurturing a positive company culture. He knew he also wanted to elevate the store itself by expanding into multi levels of the building the business had occupied since 2003.

Henne suspected the business was already outgrowing the space within a year or two of the 2003 move. Still, large vacant storefronts were tough to find in the desirable Shadyside neighborhood, so he stayed put and waited, with plans to buy the building.

Patience paid off. Henne purchased the building about 10 years ago, and when a restaurant tenant left, he knew it was finally time to expand.

Strategic growth had always been a goal. “There’s an adage I learned from a youth pastor: If a knife isn’t being sharpened, it’s getting dull,” Henne says. “The status quo just really doesn’t work. We’ve always had an eye on what’s next, how can we continue to push and grow.”

The 2024 expansion would put this philosophy to the test.

Eric Lewis, principal with E/Line Architecture, says when he first met with John and his wife, Dara, about the project, they discussed whether it was even possible to create an extraordinary multi-level jewelry store from the circa 1930 building they had to work with. After several revisions, they decided it was. “I do think John was a visionary in what he thought possible,” Lewis says.

Plans called for extensive structural changes, including removing five apartments on the third floor and multiple offices on the second. A massive basement chimney connected to an incinerator had to be demolished piece by piece from every floor, requiring steel support beams to bolster the structure.

“I only later learned that the superintendent, in the midst of the construction, would pull up each morning and thank God that the building was still standing,” Henne says.

“It was difficult from start to finish and not inexpensive,” Lewis says. “There were a lot of difficult meetings when we found a beam or something we didn’t expect [impeding progress].”

The ultimate transformation was worth the anxiety. Retail space doubled from 3,500 to 7,500 square feet, with total square footage jumping from 7,500 to 15,000. The expansion created space for a Rolex boutique, second-floor bridal salon, ADA accessibility, private selling areas, a VIP entrance and expanded jewelry collections. More importantly, it allowed Henne to elevate the shopping experience to match the company’s reputation.

The light-filled two-story foyer, dubbed the Library, exemplifies this elevated approach. It was important to create visual links between the floors. Custom-built shelving and a chandelier span two stories, drawing the gaze up the grand staircase to the second-floor bridal department. The library motif also allows for the display of treasured items, such as a picture of the Henne family’s first store, that explain the company’s history and deep ties to the community.

While the first floor of the building is blessed with high ceilings, the second floor, which originally housed offices, was not. Lewis employed wall cases and floor-to-ceiling curtains to visually stretch the space.

A bust of Jack Henne is displayed front and center in the “Library.”

On the plus side, Lewis says, the building had plenty of windows, allowing for natural light in every area of the store.

Additional amenities include a private rooftop space where shoppers can examine diamonds in sunlight. A second-floor beverage bar serves espresso, cappuccino, tea or Henne’s signature craft cocktail, the 1887 Old Fashioned. The bar sits in front of an exposed fireplace showcasing a historic onyx “Henne” sign salvaged from an earlier location, another piece of storytelling.

Customer reactions exceeded John’s expectations from opening day. His spontaneous walkthrough video went viral, garnering more than 388,000 views, 6,607 likes, 558 comments and 734 shares. Some customers have said simply walking into the store makes them feel transported to Manhattan. Another told him, “Wow, these bathrooms are better than the Ritz-Carlton!” One of Henne’s favorite quotes from a customer is “It’s great to see your physical store now as fine as your reputation.”

While luxury was important, maintaining the warm, welcoming atmosphere of a family jewelry business remained paramount. “Our customers consistently express that they feel welcomed and respected, no matter the size of their purchase, even if it’s just a new watch battery,” Henne says.
Behind this success story lies a generational tension that shaped the business’s approach to risk.

When customers tell John that his late father Jack would have been proud of the new space, he often asks, with a chuckle, “Did you know my dad?” Half of him would indeed be proud, but the other half would be apprehensive about the debt and risk involved, Henne says.

A historical onyx Henne sign salvaged from a previous location helps tell the story of the family history.

This tension played out during their 2003 move, when they borrowed money for the first time in company history. “I don’t think we should go into debt,” Jack repeated at every meeting about the move. The lease was already signed, the loan approved, and construction under way. Finally, John had to ask his debt-averse father, born in 1930 and shaped by Depression-era caution, to stop the protests.

“I told him we’re committed, and we have to see this through,” Henne recalls. “And I’d probably appreciate it if you stopped saying that you’re not for it.” Jack complied and had a sense of humor about it. Within the first week of the store’s opening, he looked around and said, tongue in cheek, “This is amazing. I’m so glad I was for this from the beginning.”

This willingness to take calculated risks has driven one of John’s most significant business transformations: shifting focus toward bridal jewelry. Before his arrival, bridal and engagement sales represented less than 2% of business. Today, it approaches one-third. “I realized how important it was to get introduced to someone making their first major jewelry purchase.”

The bridal focus extends beyond sales into relationship building. Engaged couples are celebrated with photos on store walls, social media channels, and digital billboards around the city. But Henne Jewelers also invests in marriage success. Everyone who simply tries on an engagement ring receives the book The Things I Wish I Knew Before I Got Married by Gary Chapman. Couples completing any type of premarital counseling receive $100 off each wedding band.

These ideas were inspired in part by a leadership class Henne attended during which participants were challenged to create world-changing goals. At the time, a friend’s difficult divorce prompted Henne to consider how the business could help prepare couples for marriage. “We realized we have this unique opportunity to connect with these young couples, to speak positively to them and give them a little bit of help.”

His father, Jack, provided additional inspiration. “My dad fretted over young couples focused more on the ring and the ceremony than the relationship.” The result demonstrates authentic care. “It’s not something you can fake. It’s legitimately who we are. People see that and feel that and would much prefer doing business with that.” This philosophy extends throughout the organization. Supporting mental health, Henne Jewelers employs a corporate chaplain for personal or professional counseling. The company offers financial planning sessions covering personal finances and promotes and funds continuous learning.

As Henne looks toward the future, the same family values that drove expansion and shaped company culture may guide the next chapter. He and Dara have four sons, several of whom have expressed interest in becoming the fifth generation to lead the company.

He’s reminded of the family legacy whenever he walks past the shelves in the entryway. “The two-story wall gives us an opportunity to display some amazing things,” Henne says. “And, you know, probably No. 1 for me, which I get emotional talking about, is the bust of my father and the legacy and heritage he has left that is still the fabric of who we are.

“I would say that the secret [to the business’ longevity] relies on our heritage and our faith and our emphasis on the family being most important,” Henne says. “My dad, when it came time for my sisters and I to come into the business, he was very clear to say that family is number one, and business is number two. And if the business ever got in the way of the family, he would have sold it.”

Five Cool Things About Henne Jewelers

1. PHOTO GARDEN. An influencer-friendly flower wall was created for Henne’s annual Wedding Band Weekend, which draws hundreds of couples. Because it was so popular as a photo backdrop and the flowers were artificial, the wall became a permanent fixture.

2. MATERNITY BAND PROGRAM. During pregnancy, a woman’s ring size can fluctuate significantly. Henne created a program allowing customers to borrow a gold wedding band during and after pregnancy with a deposit. When no longer needed, the band can be returned and the deposit refunded.

3. VIP ACCESS. Henne created a private VIP entrance and two-car parking area that caters to customers who value privacy. Sometimes it’s about creating a special moment. Henne says in the process of selling an 8-carat diamond to a couple celebrating 25 years of marriage, the husband and wife would meet at the store, park at the private entrance and view diamonds in the VIP room. When the husband presented the ring to his wife, he wrote and read a note to her about what she meant to him and said essentially that he wanted to marry her all over again. “That moment felt more special than the 8-carat ring,” Henne says.

4. EARLY HISTORY. Henne Jewelers was founded in 1887 by Rudolph J. Henne (“RJ”), who initially started by selling and repairing watches for the railroad industry. In 1934, RJ’s son, Rudolph G. Henne (“Gerry”), guided the business through the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war boom. In 1978, Gerry’s son, John Robert Henne (“Jack”), relocated Henne to Filbert Street in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood.

5. HENNEBUX. Hennebux gift certificates include a VIP shopping experience featuring access to Henne’s red-carpet private entrance, dedicated parking, beverages of the customer’s choice, a dedicated sales associate, and other luxurious touches designed to create the ultimate shopping experience.

PHOTO GALLERY (11 IMAGES)