During the preceding months following Starnes Jewelers announced it was closing right after extra than 120 yrs of serving the community, Chris Bramlett, a licensed gemologist appraiser who labored at the keep due to the fact 1981, understood he was not yet ready to retire and was also not completely ready to see this kind of a traditionally considerable establishment shut its doorways.
“It turned obvious in speaking to individuals through the community…that it would not be extremely superior if Albemarle have been remaining without the need of a jeweler the stature and sort that Starnes experienced been for 124 yrs,” he reported.
So even even though his brother-in-legislation Gene Starnes, who experienced owned the retail store considering the fact that 1976, could no longer work the enterprise because of to a wide range of health and fitness challenges, it was made the decision concerning both equally adult men that Bramlett would acquire above as operator and keep on managing the retail store, this time beneath the name Starnes Bramlett. The rebranded business officially reopened final week.
Chris Bramlett is taking around as operator of Starnes Jewelers, which is now Starnes Bramlett.
This is not Bramlett’s first time possessing a jewelry retail outlet. During a around 15-12 months stint in the 1990s and early 2000s, Bramlett left the Albemarle enterprise to establish his very own shop in downtown Harmony termed Christopher’s Jewelers. He served as president and proprietor until eventually 2004 ahead of closing and coming again to Starnes.
Apart from a number of dissimilarities, there will be much less of an emphasis on present objects and home products for occasion — the store is considerably the identical as it is often been. He explained longtime staff Dolores Talbert will grow to be typical manager and choose on supplemental duties.
“You could not have a improved staff members to work a jewellery keep than what we have,” he mentioned. “They knew the individuals and they know the items.”
Bramlett reported the general public reaction to the news that the retail outlet, which contains customs from all over the place, has been far better than he at any time could have predicted.
“It’s been incredible,” he mentioned. “I had no concept that it be been given like it is been received. Everywhere I go folks search me out and tell me how happy they are that Starnes Bramlett is right here and that we’re going to be the very same jewellery retail outlet that they have been accustomed to all their life.”
Bramlett notes that although Gene Starnes was unhappy that circumstances prevented him from continuing the store, he has done every little thing inside his electricity to make sure the new iteration of the shop will be a extended-lasting achievement.
“Gene will not be an proprietor, but Gene Starnes can under no circumstances be separated from the jewellery store in downtown Albemarle,” Bramlett claimed.
Even nevertheless he’s 83, Bramlett, who recently served a stint on the Albemarle City Council, said he’s in excellent health and fitness and has no plans on retiring at any time before long.
“As extended as I’m healthy and can basically appear to function in the mornings, I approach to do that,” he claimed. “If sometime in the upcoming the time will come for me to action aside, I’ll do every little thing I can to make absolutely sure the retail outlet proceeds.”
Starnes Bramlett is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
