Lexington, SC jewellery retail store to close just after 58 years

Lexington Jewelers, which has been in business for 58 years, and has been owned by Barnette Scott for the last 38 years, is closing its doors for good on Christmas Eve. Scott is retiring.

Lexington Jewelers, which has been in company for 58 years, and has been owned by Barnette Scott for the very last 38 yrs, is closing its doors for very good on Xmas Eve. Scott is retiring.

Picture by Chris Trainor

For practically 60 decades, Midlands inhabitants have been able to convert to Lexington Jewelers for necklaces, rings and numerous other shiny baubles. But now the shop’s time on the community scene is growing limited.

Lexington Jewelers, positioned at 134 East Principal St. along Lexington’s fast paced downtown corridor, will shut its doors for superior at 2 p.m. Xmas Eve. The shop is acquiring a heading-out-of-small business sale, with savings becoming presented on considerably of its stock.

Longtime retail outlet owner Barnette Scott, 73, said she thinks the time is basically appropriate to provide the business enterprise to an conclusion and enjoy a retirement.

“I’ve been praying about it,” Scott instructed The Point out. “I’ve been threatening to shut for a couple decades. My spouse and children has been wanting me to retire and love lifetime a tiny little bit. I have worked hard all my lifetime. … It was just time.”

Lexington Jewelers was first opened by Bruce Prepare dinner in 1963. He marketed the enterprise to Scott and her partner in 1983. Scott’s husband died in 1996, and she ongoing to operate the store right after his passing.

“The good Lord has blessed us with all the ups and downs of of possessing a tiny organization, and the local community has offered us this sort of guidance about the years,” Scott mentioned. “We’ve been incredibly blessed, that’s for absolutely sure.”

That community help was bolstered Monday night time, as the Lexington City Council passed a proclamation honoring Scott and Lexington Jewelers for their a long time of small business and company.

Scott explained it has been challenging chatting about the closing with longtime prospects and good friends.

“You speak about an emotional roller coaster,” Scott reported. “This has been my child all these yrs. A whole lot of tears have been shed. But all people has been satisfied that I’m likely to retire. … When you appear in my doorway, you become my mate. Gentlemen, females and kids alike. There has been a ton of hugging and a great deal of tears. But there are a great deal of friendships that will proceed.”

The longtime jewellery store proprietor claimed shopper company was paramount all through her time and that her specialty was customized design and repair service.

“I’ve been developing and creating jewelry for 40-as well as years,” Scott said. “We known as ourselves personal jewelers, and that is how we have been all our lives. Private jewelers to make positive that we would do what you want carried out and enable you uncover what you will need and make heirloom parts that would be handed on.”

The impending closure of the jewellery store will be another transform for the transforming experience of the Key Street corridor in Lexington. The thoroughfare has noticed sweeping improve in the latest decades, with a range of new bars, restaurants, espresso outlets and other places popping up. The Icehouse Amphitheater, just off Key Avenue, has made available live shows, films, festivals and far more and has served as an anchor for the district.

Chris Trainor has been functioning for newspapers in South Carolina for far more than 17 several years, which include earlier stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free of charge Instances. He is the winner of many South Carolina Push Association awards, which include honors in column crafting, government beat reporting, profile crafting, foodstuff producing, election coverage and far more.