Walter J. Cook Jeweler celebrates 75 years of serving the Main Line and beyond
TREDYFFRIN Twentyfifth anniversaries are marked by silver, fiftieth by gold, and seventyfifth 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 thirdgeneration 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 wide array of and one-ofa-kind products and giftware, including silver baby goods, silver and pewter frames, recycled aluminum giftware, customized recycled wine barrel cap trays, and much more.
“Our jewelry and our gifts are hand-selected,” Michael remarked. “You won’t find this stuff online. Our clientele is looking for something more unique and
special — plus we will box it and wrap it for them, ready for gift-giving.”
Cook said the shop is also known for doing quality repairs. He explained, “We like when jewelry is brought in for repair because we get to problem solve and bring the piece back to its original glory.”
The jeweler said the shop was closed for three months during the height of the pandemic. However, since reopening, Cook said he considers the short closure just a hiccup because the store has gone full-speed ahead ever since.
“We are blessed to have such loyal customers,” Michael stated. “We take care of them and they have taken care of us. The same goes for the staff here. We’re loyal to our employees
and they are loyal to us.”
Walter J. Cook Jeweler has a friendly, knowledgeable staff, who have an average tenure of 15 years or more. On any given day, three to five employees are in the shop, out on the floor, to meet customers’ needs.
“I enjoy my work here and I like forging relationships with our customers and offering the Walter J. Cook personal touch,” explained employee Vivien Hoke. “We are like a family here. We have formed good relationships with our vendors as well.”
“Who wouldn’t like to work here, surrounded by such pretty things all
day,” longtime employee Susan Kefford added, with a smile. “Our customers are lovely and the atmosphere is uplifting!”
Walter J. Cook Jeweler has an independent appraiser who comes in once a month to offer appraisals and a local goldsmith who has done work for the store for over 25 years.
Cook says he hopes to have a “75-plus one” celebration and anniversary sale in 2022, after the COVID scare has mostly passed.
The owner said he has enjoyed every minute of being in the jewelry business because people usually buy jewelry to mark happy occasions.
“Ninety-nine percent of the customers who walk through our door are looking for jewelry or a gift to
mark a joyous occasion,” he explained. “We are thrilled to be a part of their selection of what to give a loved one. We’re happy because they’re happy. Our customers often bring in photos to show us, from their wedding or milestone birthday after purchasing something for the occasion here. We are lucky to feel that we are a part of their celebration.”
Walter J. Cook Jeweler is located in the Chestnut Village Shoppes, 36 Chestnut Road, Paoli. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., TuesdayFriday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; closed SundayMonday. Walk-ins and appointments are available. For more information, call the shop at 610-644-5347 or visit http://www.walterjcookjeweler.com.