Historic Greenstone’s Fine Jewelry Opens New Birmingham Location

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BIRMINGHAM, Michigan — Greenstone’s Fine Jewelry, which first opened in Detroit 85 years ago, is moving one block south to 430 N. Old Woodward Avenue in Birmingham from 528 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham. Its new location officially opens on Wednesday, September 1, 2010.

“We’re thrilled to be opening in a larger location,” says Robert Greenstone, the jewelry store’s current owner and its founder’s grandson. “Our new location is about 20 percent larger, and has more open and flexible space. It will accommodate the growth of our business, and help us to better serve our customers.”

The new location will feature fine jewelry from numerous internationally recognized designers as well as custom designs from Greenstone’s own workshops. “Excellent quality and good design are the cornerstones of value in fine jewelry,” Greenstone says.

“Service is the most important aspect of our business, and is a regular part of our daily activity. We’re a family owned Michigan business,” Greenstone explains. “I recognize most customers coming into the store by name, and we’re fortunate that many customers have been with us for two or three generations.”

Greenstone’s opened its Birmingham store in 1972, and expanded in 1980. It became the Official Rolex Jeweler in Birmingham in 1982. In 2011, Greenstone’s will celebrate its fortieth year of business in Birmingham.

In addition to Rolex, the jeweler will offer timepieces from other Swiss manufacturers, including Longines, Movado, Tissot and Victorinox as well as factory-authorized service for all featured brands.

The new Greenstone’s also will showcase a larger array of giftware, including an extensive collection of Waterford Crystal, Val St. Lambert, Reed & Barton, Chelsea Clock and A.T. Cross.

“The giftware market has changed markedly in recent years. We’re adapting with new technology that permits greater access to a wider variety of products so we can meet customers’ individual needs,” Greenstone notes. “We also have expanded our offerings for corporate gifts, awards and recognition programs.”

Insurance appraisal, pearl stringing and engraving services still will be provided on premises, and repair service will be available in Greenstone’s as well as by manufacturer’s factory service facilities.

Greenstone’s phone number is 248.642.2650.  It’s also accessible on the Web at greenstonesjewelers.com.  Store hours are unchanged, Monday through Wednesday and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

About Greenstone’s 85 Years as a Family Owned Michigan Business

Abraham Greenstone opened Greenstone’s first location in 1925 in downtown Detroit at 1550 Broadway in the Capitol Theatre Building, now the Detroit Opera House.  Ever since, Greenstone’s has specialized in fine diamonds, precious gems, pearls and classic jewelry design.

During World War II, Greenstone’s operated from the Metropolitan Building on Detroit’s Randolph Street, adjacent to Hudson’s department store.  A second Greenstone generation entered the business and, in 1949, moved the store back to its original pre-war location. There, the business thrived during Detroit’s heyday.  In 1959, Abraham Greenstone’s sons Herbert and Irving opened a second location on Livernois – Detroit’s “Avenue of Fashion.” In the early 1960s, the brothers moved the downtown store to the Fisher Building in Detroit’s New Center area.

The Birmingham store was opened in 1972, and expanded in 1980. In 2011, Greenstone’s will celebrate its fortieth year in Birmingham at its new updated location on North Old Woodward, just one block south of their original Birmingham store.

About Greenstone’s Birmingham Location

Greenstone’s will celebrate its fortieth anniversary of business in Birmingham in 2011.

In its new location, Greenstone’s will occupy the entire main floor of the 430 N. Old Woodward building.  Originally constructed in 1962, the three-story building was completely rebuilt in 1999 by Victor Saroki and Associates, which earned the Birmingham architectural firm numerous awards.

A handicap-accessible entrance is available through the building’s main lobby, just north of Greenstone’s front door and which features an original Marshall Fredericks sculpture.  Metered parking is available along both sides of North Old Woodward Avenue near Booth Park. Convenient parking also is available in the City of Birmingham’s Old Woodward parking structure, half a block to the southwest of the store.

About Greenstone’s “Made in Michigan” Products, Furnishings and Location
Greenstone’s workshops employ local craftspeople to set stones, repair watches and other pieces, engrave initials and sentiments and string pearls. Local artisans design and produce many of Greenstone’s custom designs in the store’s workshops. The jeweler also uses special technical production sources in metro Detroit.

Rasmussen & Son Woodworking Co.’s Kenneth Rasmussen, a second-generation cabinetmaker, crafted Greenstone’s display cases and store furnishings. Rasmussen has been operating in Detroit for more than 60 years.

Victor Saroki & Associates, which renovated the 430 N. Old Woodward building in 1999, is located on the top floor of the building and overlooks Booth Park. The award-winning architectural firm has been located in Birmingham for more than 25 years. It has designed and managed many landmark residential, commercial and mixed-use Birmingham projects (and throughout metro Detroit), including the Brown Street Townhomes, Townsend Townhomes and The Willits.