BY ZACH WILLIAMS | They say that good things come in small packages.
But unlike the diamonds they sell, the owners of Seaport Jewelry, at 50 Fulton St., could not last forever. After a 28-year run, longtime co-owner Jon Valentino, 67, is selling off his mom-and-pop shop and retiring next month.
To many local residents, Valentino’s retirement marks the end of an era in which the business was a cherished neighborhood hub.
While the new owners will continue to keep the shop open, the most faithful customers are saddened by the departure of Valentino, a man they say possesses a signature neighborhood-friendly approach to his business.
Jokes, chatter and the sale of designer jewelry mix within the small confines of the shop, where locals have congregated for years on Friday afternoons for small get-togethers. The store’s down-to-earth atmosphere has made it more than just a jewelry shop to many people, according to professional magician Steve Thiel, a regular customer for the last 10 years.
“They treat the customers like friends,” said Thiel. “I think that essentially says it all. They have patience.”
Thiel compared the store to a “small town.”
“I come here to socialize, discuss current events or the family — things like that,” he said. “It’s a warm feeling.”
A New York City native, Vietnam War army veteran and family man, Valentino has been the constant within the business, which he has run with three partners. But it was not until later in life before jewelry became a career for Valentino.
Valentino first opened the jewelry shop with a friend in 1984 while holding down a job as a repairman for a local telephone company, a profession he worked in for two decades. A handshake with a wholesaler named Beddow Tek secured $20,000 in inventory to facilitate the opening of the store, he said.
In 1990, he abandoned his day job to run the shop full-time.
Between then and now, Valentino went from a jewelry novice to a reliable expert for local residents. A knack for working with his hands helped him master the daily duties of a neighborhood jeweler, he said. An acquired ability to repair watches, modify jewelry and express his knowledge of gems are just one of the many reasons that customers trust him with their valuables, said Alex Cardinali, who has been a regular at the store for 10 years.
The location of the shop quickly appealed to an unexpected clientele, according to Valentino.
“It seemed like it had a lot of potential for tourism…and that’s not what transpired,” he said. “It was basically local people, working people — people who came to know us.”
Tek joined the shop after Valentino’s first partner retired in 1991. His death in 1997 left Valentino determined to keep the business going in honor of his friend, according to Tek’s wife, Germain Tek, who recalls getting a phone call from Valentino when her husband passed away.
“He gave me two days to relax, to cry, to mourn and he said, ‘it’s over now, come in and start working in the store now. You are my partner,’” recalled Tek.
Valentino explained how the business has changed alongside the neighborhood. In contrast to the 1980s when many customers worked in the area but lived elsewhere, local residents make up a strong share of his business since revitalization efforts in Downtown got underway.
The need to stay open through the weekend in order to accommodate more customers factored into Valentino’s decision to retire this year.
“I based my business originally on Monday through Friday, because it was a business area,” he elaborated. “Now, we have to be here either Saturday or Sunday, which I don’t want to be…Five days a week is enough.”
Valentino plans to keep himself busy during retirement by traveling with his family and pursuing other hobbies such as restoring his two classic cars. He is also contemplating a cross-country road trip with his sons and grandchildren.
Cardinali, meanwhile, is hopeful he hasn’t seen the last of his friend Valentino. The shop owner, he said, will be difficult to replace.
“It’s going to be hard for me to find another place to go and people to trust, especially in this business,” said Cardinali. “But I’m sure we are still going to be friends.”
