Copyright Santa Rosa Press Democrat
After nearly three decades in Santa Rosa’s outdoor mall Montgomery Village, a locally owned jewelry shop is going out of business. Design Jewelers, located at 2415 Magowan Drive, made the announcement last month. The store opened in February 1997 with owner Ken Gray designing most of the store’s jewelry and custom pieces. Gray said he is headed for retirement, although closing the store brings mixed emotions. “On one hand, I’m just really happy to get out of retail for a while. Maybe I can go back to it in the future, but I am very sad about the store closing,” Gray said. “It’s just been my home here in Montgomery Village for 29 years.” One of the longest standing shops at the mall, over the years Gray’s store has occupied three different spots, relocating from where Soma is now before eventually settling into its current location. The Santa Rosa native practically grew up at Montgomery Village as his parents Dave and Claire Weeks were the owners of the Flowerland flower shop. Another locally owned shop next to Gray’s jewelry store recently closed as well. Women’s boutique Dandelion shut three years after Tifani Beecher and Melissa Stewart opened. Another boutique, Rust, closed its temporary popup store last August. Gray said no closing date has been announced until they sell enough inventory at their going out of business sale. He said there has been an outpouring of love and support from the community which caught him by surprise. “I’ve been here for so long and didn’t really realize how many people I have reached and how many people I’ve touched with the work that we do here and it’s really given me an awareness of how important community is to us,” Gray said. Gray said customers have been sharing stories about how he has been their trusted family jeweler, memories he cherishes most. “I’ve made wedding rings and engagement rings for people and now their kids are coming in – the second generation – and I’m making wedding rings for their kids so that’s been fun,” Gray said. In his retirement, he said he wants to spend more time with his own young son. After the store closes, Gray said he hopes his customers keep an eye out for him because he might set up a studio for custom jewelry by appointment only.
