Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Walter J. Cook Jeweler celebrates 75 years of serving Chester County
TREDYFFRIN » Twenty-fifth anniversaries are marked by silver, fiftieth by gold, and seventy-fifth anniversaries are celebrated with diamonds.
Now celebrating 75 years, Walter J. Cook Jeweler, located in the Chestnut Village Shoppes in Paoli, has withstood the test of time and is still shining as bright as the diamonds in its showcases. Serving the Main Line and surrounding areas, Walter J. Cook Jeweler offers classic and designer jewelry designs and unique giftware, as well as jewelry collections, which are hand curated, one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces.
The store’s inventory is constantly changing. The store prides itself on its honesty, integrity, and tradition, along with its high quality, custom jewelry designs and restyling. A longtime community favorite, the shop also offers repairs and independent appraisals and has an impeccable reputation that has been earned. one satisfied customer at a time. Owned by Michael and Louise Cook, the local business was established in 1946, by Michael’s father, Walter J. Cook.When he returned
from serving in the U.S. Navy, Walter worked for a short period in manufacturing before deciding this was not what he wanted to do. In the 1930s, he accepted an apprenticeship with a watchmaker at a shop in Wayne.
After learning the craft, Walter began his lifelong career path, by operating a small watch kiosk in the rear of Harrison’s Department Store on Route 30 in Bryn Mawr. It wasn’t long before young Walter opened his own small jewelry shop, located underneath Parvin’s Pharmacy in Bryn Mawr. In 1954, Walter expanded and moved the shop to the Paoli Shopping Center, becoming one of its original tenants. Michael, the youngest of Walter’s six children, worked in the shop after school and on weekends while he
was a student at Conestoga High School.
He entered the family business full-time in 1981. Michael and Louise purchased the Walter J. Cook Jeweler business from his father in 1995. They kept the shop at the same location until 1999, when they moved to their present location in the Chestnut Village Shoppes, doubling the size of their previous showroom and enabling the owners to expand their jewelry inventory.
“After moving here, we’ve never looked back,” Michael said, “We’ve been here 22 years now. We take pride in our unique selection, high quality products, and killer customer service.”The owner said that customer service is a top priority and customers appreciate the individualized attention and emphasis on customer satisfaction.“We do our absolute best to make our customer service exemplary,” Cook stated. “We bend over backwards to make everyone who walks out of here a happy customer.”
Cook said many people who come in the store are second- and third-generation customers.“We have some who come in to buy an engagement ring, return for wedding rings, and then come back to buy baby gifts,” Cook said. “We get to know our customers and enjoy helping them choose special pieces of jewelry and other gifts to mark the milestones and special occasions in their lives.
“In addition to classics like pearl jewelry and beautiful colored gemstones, which Cook says are always a Main Line favorite, Walter J. Cook Jeweler represents a couple of sought-after designers who offer the latest in fashionable jewelry. Cook says that he’s currently noticing trends in yellow gold, classic diamond rings, and silver jewelry.
“We try to be on trend,” Cook explained, “But not be slaves to it.”In addition to a huge selection of high quality jewelry in all price ranges that will appeal to all ages and tastes, Walter J. Cook Jeweler offers a