Wisconsin's largest family-owned jewelry store will close its doors after 75 years of business
WEST BEND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After 75 years, Wisconsin's largest family-owned jewelry store will close its doors. Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds in West Bend says this decision has been five years in the making.
In towns like West Bend – there are some names that hold weight. Marvin Husar made his in 1951.
“I don’t even know what the streets are gonna be like when I don’t see the Husar name,” said customer Jayne Peplinski.
What started as a 200-foot store now sits in the heart of West Bend’s downtown – with Marvin's son, Mike, keeping up the traditions his dad started.
“He started as a watchmaker and went into being a goldsmith and grew it into what it is today,” said Mike Husar. “How much my dad had steered the ship and helped us get to where we are today.”
At Husar's, families come to celebrate milestones.
"It's about the memories. It’s about making the memories. People buy jewelry for the memorable occasions in their life,” said Husar.
Just ask Jacob Peplinksi and Makayla Moore.
“Every man in my family, we’ve always come here. Everyone gets the ring here,” said Peplinksi.
They’re about to mark the start of one of the most important ones, together.
“As soon as I knew this was the woman for me, it was OK, we’re going to Husar’s and getting the ring,” said Peplinksi.
They’re also some of the last to do so.
“That’s going to be hardest part of walking away from this,” said Husar.
At the end of the year, Husar’s House of Fine Diamonds is set to close. A decision Husar says wasn’t easy to make.
“No, it can’t be. It’s not. But there comes a time where you have to realize it’s time,” said Husar.
There isn’t a final date for when Husar’s will close – Husar says just until they run out of inventory, which he believes could happen before Christmas.
For more than seven decades, generations of families have purchased jewelry from Husar's. Husar says he hopes it’s those items and more importantly, the memories people will continue to pass on, long after the Husar name.
“We were there for people in those memorable moments and they’re gonna remember us and we’re still gonna cherish and remember a lot of those events,” said Husar.
Husar's House of Fine Diamonds