Lodi jewelry store celebrates 50 years
Synowicki Jewel Box, which opened its doors in 1967 and is now located on School Street, is celebrating five decades of business in Lodi.
This month, local jewelry store Synowicki Jewel Box has been celebrating 50 years of providing quality jewelry pieces to the Lodi community.
Store Owner Brian Synowicki is proud of just how far the store has come since his father Walter started the business in 1967. Even though Walter passed away five years ago, Brian continues to keep the legacy going with the help of his brother-in-law, Frank Eisner, and his staff who he considers family.
Originally from Canada, Brian’s parents moved to Lodi in 1958. Walter had been a watchmaker in Toronto, and came to California with the desire to take his career a step forward and became a jeweler. According to Brian, Walter started out in a tiny space next to what was known as Sell-Rite Market at the corner of Ham Lane and Lockeford Street. There Walter worked for other jewelers in Stockton and Sacramento and built up his name. Brian’s mother would pick up the pieces for Walter to work on and delivered them back to the jewelers when they were finished.
Walter continued to do work for other jewelers until 1966 when he saved up enough money to start his own business. In 1967 Walter left the tiny space and opened up the Jewel Box on Pine Street under Hotel Lodi. Over the years the men in the family ran the store. Walter’s son-in-law Doug Schnaidt assisted him in running the store, and then later his other son-inlaw Frank Eisner joined the family business. Next Walter’s son, Bob Synowicki, became a part of the legacy and a year or two later Brian joined in. Walter’s son-in-laws would serve as the salesmen while he Brian and Bob were the jewelers.
That was the dynamic for several years until Bob decided to leave the business and move away. The four left continued to run the business as they did before. In 1996 the Synocwickis made the big move to 125 S. School St., where they are currently located, and around that time added Synowicki to the store name.
It’s been 21 years since the move, and now Brian is the only Synowicki left at the store. However, his brother-in-law Frank has returned to work at the store for the past two years after leaving the business 14 years ago. Current staff members also include Barbara Ross, who has been with the store for five years, Christie McClure, who been with the store for 17 years, Pete Graffigna, who took over for Doug as the manager about 8 years ago, and Petru Colfescu, Brian’s jeweler of five years.
“My staff is really good,” Brian said. “They do fantastic work for me.”
Over the years, Brian said the business has become more challenging than ever, with the focus on customer service. The internet and Costco has altered the business, Brian said.
“When I first started it was all jewelry stores and over the years I’ve seen jewelry stores leave,” Brian said. “They’re all gone. It’s kind of a dying breed, because the internet changed a lot of things.”
He said he was able to stay in business by having a good repair service and customer service.
Serving his customers is what Brian enjoys the most about running a jewelry store.
“They appreciate what you do for them,” Brian said. “When you make a piece of jewelry and it’s created by you or even if you just redo a ring that was worn out and you rebuild it back up for them again, it’s the smile on their faces and comments they make on it. The things they do when they thank you. It kind of reminds you why you’re here and why you love doing what you do.”
Brian said reaching the 50-year milestone was also a memorable moment for him.
“That was my ultimate goal when I had to take over the store,” he said. “We had to fight through the recession and we made it through that.”
Keeping the business open over the years has been challenging for Brian but he has managed to keep the store thriving.
“It’s all about bringing customers in and taking care of them, and I think as long as you do that and your work is good, your business will be fine,” Brian said.
Brian said he is the youngest of the of the men in his family and he doesn’t know if the store will continue on after him. He has daughters, but he’s not sure if they would be interested in carrying on the business. “It goes as far I go,” he said. Brian plans is to keep the store going as long as he is able to.
“As long as I can do it I’ll keep the store going,” Brain said.