Longtime North County jewelry store was set to close — until a former employee stepped in
A beloved Atascadero jewelry store that was slated to close after its owners’ retirement will instead get a second life.
A former employee and her husband will take over K. Jons Diamonds and Gems from longtime owners Stan and Mary Sherwin, ushering in the North County institution’s next era.
“We found out they were retiring, and so many things had to fall into place,” said Lindsay Jane Chatham, the new co-owner. “It was crazy.”
The Sherwins were preparing to shutter their store in early January. The jewelers ran the business for 40 years and were ready to enjoy their golden years.
“Mary and I just absolutely love what we’re doing,” Stan told The Tribune in November. “But we also love our free time.”
At the time, the couple wasn’t sure what would become of their longtime business.
K. Jons’ next generation
But then, Chatham and her husband, Greg — both gemologists — decided to move back to Atascadero. Now, the couple will carry on the Sherwins’ legacy.
Lindsay Jane, who grew up in Atascadero, originally started working at K. Jons as a teenager. She met Greg — who served in the U.S. Army Special Forces and is now in the Army National Guard — when they were both studying gemology.
The couple’s store will retain the K. Jons name, although it will now be known as K. Jons Jewelry Co. instead of K. Jons Diamonds and Gems, Lindsay Jane said.
The couple will lease the showroom and offices from the Sherwins, and they purchased all of the business’s technology and equipment. Most of the store’s employees will remain and work for the Chathams.
Much of the Sherwins’ previous inventory was sold during the couple’s going-out-of-business sale, and the Chathams will bring an entirely new inventory of jewelry to the store. Lindsay Jane, an award-winning jewelry designer, is eager to create pieces for customers.
Longtime customers have expressed relief that K. Jons will remain a part of Atascadero, after all, Lindsay Jane said: “It’s heart-warming for us.”
“Stan and Mary have kind of given us their blessing, in a sense,” Lindsay Jane said. “We want people to feel they can still trust K. Jons.”
This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 2:29 PM.
