Linnea Jewelers in La Grange is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month. And now it’s going through a transition where the leadership is passing on to a new generation.
“We’re still going to be strong in our community,” owner Denise Oros said, “because the community has supported us all these years.”
She stressed that the anniversary celebration — a two day affair Sept. 12 and 13, — was typical of Linnea’s success over the years, saying Saturday’s crowd made it “an unbelievable day.”
Although Oros has spent her entire professional career as a jeweler, she originally planned a career in marine biology. She earned a bachelor’s degree in the subject from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
But the job prospects in that field weren’t very good, so she decided to study jewelry technology at Paris Technical College in Paris, Texas.
So at the age of 23, Oros wound up opening a jewelry store in Lake Charles, which was also her hometown.
“That’s really where I cut my teeth on repair and restoration,” she said.
What originally might have been a disappointment to her turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
“I had no idea that I could do this at this level,” she said, noting that over her career she had become a master goldsmith.
Oros found her way to the Chicago area the way many people find themselves moving around the country — she met her spouse. They’ve lived in the western suburbs for 33 years, where they raised two children, now grown.
She found Linnea storefront, 23 S. Ashland Ave., “in the back of a magazine,” wound up coming to La Grange, loving the village and the people, saying “they’ve become my loyal community.”
After being at the helm of Linnea for decades, Oros is turning the reins over to two of her longtime employees, also certified goldsmiths.
Oros said while she had built up the Linnea business, “from the ground up,” she felt it was in good hands with her proteges.
Several local dignitaries were on hand to celebrate the anniversary.
“I think this is great,” La Grange village President Mark Kuchler said. “It’s great that the business has been here so long, it’s great that Denise is such a pillar of the community. She’s trusted by so many in the community for all their high end jewelry. Linnea is one of the things that makes La Grange the best downtown.”
Customers also heaped superlatives on Linnea Jewelry.
“I live in La Grange, so this has been my local jeweler that I come to for the past decade or so,” said customer Tess Lewandowski. “I come here for my special items. … My mom actually bought me my graduation present from here which is my very favorite necklace.
“very time I come in here I have to factor in another half-hour to take in all the beautiful work.”
Diana Stout, a former employee at Linnea, is now a loyal customer.
“All my jewelry is from Linnea Jewelers,” she said. “So any time my husband wants to get me a piece of jewelry, we come here. I trust her (Oros), so when I actually did leave, where else would I ever go for my jewelry? It would be Denise.”
And Oros feels the same loyalty toward her customers. She noted that her jewelry creations were often a collaboration between Linnea and the customers, and that some of those interactions involved recently deceased loved ones.
“The whole thing about jewelry stores is trust,” she said. “You’re trusting me with your family heirlooms, and we’ve proven time and time again that not only will we take care of your family heirlooms, but we’ll take care of you as well. Whenever those widows and survivors get up to my showcase, they’re starting a new chapter in their lives. I have to handle those people with kid gloves.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.