Michael Cook at his jewelry emporium on Chestnut Rd. in Paoli.
One of the last fine jewelry stores still standing on the Main Line is folding.
In business for nearly 80 years, Walter J. Cook Jeweler is closing its 2,750 sq. ft. Paoli showroom. A storewide liquidation sale begins next week.
“Business has never been better so I’m transitioning on my terms, from a position of strength,” says owner Michael Cook, who joined his father’s business in 1981 and took the reins 30 years ago. Cook’s two sons have successful careers in finance and weren’t interested in taking over, he says.
At age 66, Cook tells SAVVY he’s not retiring, he’s “downsizing… It’s time.”
He plans to open an intimate, by-appointment-only jewelry salon somewhere between Devon and Paoli next fall. Michael Cook Jeweler – his own name on the door at last – will offer the same mix of quality classic and eclectic pieces Walter J. Cook has sold for years.
“It’s fairly common for people in the jewelry business who are ready to change their business model to open a private jewelry business as a step toward retirement,” he explains.
In the meantime, Walter J. Cook Jeweler will start selling off its entire multimillion-dollar inventory – everything from wedding rings and diamond bracelets to baby and wedding gifts – beginning Thursday, April 24. Everything in the store will be 30 to 50 percent off.
The Paoli home of Walter J. Cook Jeweler for 26 of its nearly 80 years on the Main Line. The owner’s father, Walter, started with a tiny shop below Parvin’s Pharmacy in Bryn Mawr in 1946 and moved to Paoli in 1954 as one of the original tenants of Paoli Shopping Center. Michael moved the business to its current home in Chestnut Village Shoppes in 1999.
A homegrown businessman, Cook is an alumnus of St. Norbert School and Conestoga High School and has long supported local nonprofits with donations.
After four decades of 60-hour work weeks – he gets personally involved in most sales – Cook says he’s more than ready to downshift.
“I’d like to thank all of my loyal clientele. Even though I’m continuing in a smaller place, I know many of them might not be following me there. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them for trusting me and supporting me all these years.”
Walter J. Cook Jeweler, 36 Chestnut Rd. Paoli, 610-644-5347, will hold a storewide closing sale beginning April 24 at 10 a.m.
Did Mr.Cook take over Howard Zulich’s jewelry business years ago below Parvin’s Pharmacy in Bryn Mawr ? We (now) old timers remember Mr. Zulich with fond memories. That location seems to have been a jewelry favorite for many decades.
Yes. All I know is that Walter Cook started with a small watch repair business below Parvin’s in 1946 – not sure if that predates Howard Zulich.
Yes, Lisa and Caroline, that must have been before Mr. Zulich, We were Zulich customers in the 60s.