Lexington, SC jewelry retail outlet to shut following 58 yrs

Lexington Jewelers, which has been in business enterprise for 58 several years, and has been…

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 business enterprise for 58 several years, and has been owned by Barnette Scott for the last 38 decades, is closing its doorways for good on Xmas Eve. Scott is retiring.

Picture by Chris Trainor

For almost 60 several years, Midlands people have been ready to turn to Lexington Jewelers for necklaces, rings and many other shiny baubles. But now the shop’s time on the neighborhood scene is rising limited.

Lexington Jewelers, positioned at 134 East Major St. alongside Lexington’s chaotic downtown corridor, will shut its doors for very good at 2 p.m. Christmas Eve. The shop is having a heading-out-of-company sale, with savings currently being presented on a great deal of its inventory.

Longtime retailer proprietor Barnette Scott, 73, said she thinks the time is simply just right to deliver the business enterprise to an stop and appreciate a retirement.

“I’ve been praying about it,” Scott told The Point out. “I’ve been threatening to shut for a pair many years. My spouse and children has been seeking me to retire and enjoy life a little bit. I’ve worked difficult all my everyday living. … It was just time.”

Lexington Jewelers was 1st opened by Bruce Cook dinner in 1963. He offered the enterprise to Scott and her husband in 1983. Scott’s spouse died in 1996, and she continued to run the store just after his passing.

“The good Lord has blessed us with all the ups and downs of of possessing a little enterprise, and the local community has specified us these guidance over the several years,” Scott reported. “We’ve been incredibly blessed, that is for sure.”

That local community assistance was bolstered Monday evening, as the Lexington City Council handed a proclamation honoring Scott and Lexington Jewelers for their a long time of business enterprise and services.

Scott explained it has been tough chatting about the closing with longtime customers and mates.

“You communicate about an psychological roller coaster,” Scott claimed. “This has been my baby all these yrs. A lot of tears have been lose. But everybody has been joyful that I’m going to retire. … When you appear in my door, you turn out to be my buddy. Guys, girls and youngsters alike. There has been a large amount of hugging and a whole lot of tears. But there are a lot of friendships that will keep on.”

The longtime jewelry store operator explained buyer services was paramount in the course of her time and that her specialty was tailor made layout and repair.

“I’ve been designing and earning jewelry for 40-furthermore yrs,” Scott stated. “We named ourselves private jewelers, and that is how we’ve been all our life. Private jewelers to make certain that we would do what you require finished and assist you uncover what you want and make heirloom items that would be passed on.”

The impending closure of the jewelry store will be another change for the modifying deal with of the Major Street corridor in Lexington. The thoroughfare has noticed sweeping alter in the latest years, with a range of new bars, eating places, espresso retailers and other destinations popping up. The Icehouse Amphitheater, just off Primary Avenue, has made available live shows, films, festivals and additional and has served as an anchor for the district.

Chris Trainor has been functioning for newspapers in South Carolina for additional than 17 decades, including preceding stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) No cost Moments. He is the winner of many South Carolina Press Affiliation awards, such as honors in column producing, federal government defeat reporting, profile producing, food producing, election protection and a lot more.