Customers who walk into Lewis Jewelers’ new building on Maple Rd. are immediately struck by one thing: its size.
At 10,000 square feet, Lewis’s digs are four times as large as its former location on W. Stadium. They’ve used the space to add more selling areas and much more seating, including a pair of leather rockers.
“Everything is very open, similar to the other store,” says assistant manager Keith Largin (left, with owner David Lewis). “It’s like we’re adding water to it and making it grow.” | Photo: J. Adrian Wylie
But Lewis is trying to make the surroundings seem familiar, says assistant manager Keith Largin. A large Lewis logo is set in the center of the new selling floor as it was in the previous location. Decor remains tasteful grays with darker wood trim, while the Lewis sign and awnings out front are bright red.
“Everything is very open, similar to the other store. It’s like we’re adding water to it and making it grow,” Largin says.
Still, this store was slow to take root. Lewis took over the former Quarter Bistro in February 2020 and sold its previous home to a local developer, thinking it would complete a simple renovation of the existing space.
“At that point, the city of Ann Arbor had different plans for us,” Largin says.
They had to dig out the entire lot to add stormwater detention, regrade, and construct a brand-new building much closer to Maple. And rather than a single jewelry store, the project became a mini-mall, with Lewis as its anchor and six smaller storefronts.
Although there was talk of constructing a drive-thru for a possible Starbucks, “that wasn’t allowed to happen,” Largin says. Meanwhile, Covid delayed both construction and the availability of materials. Fortunately, the tenant who was going to move into their Stadium location backed out, giving them some breathing space.
The hoped-for opening in fall 2021 took almost another year to materialize before the store launched this September.
To its lineup of designer brands, Lewis has added three new jewelry lines: Fope, a maker of Italian gold pieces; Luvente, which specializes in whimsical ladies’ diamond fashion jewelry; and Goshwara, known for unique colored stone jewelry, such as blue topaz, citrine, and amethyst.
Lewis, which has always specialized in custom designs, has added a 3-D printer so that customers can get a complete view of their items as they’re being created. “I get to have fun with that,” Largin says.
Still to come: a second-floor Lewis Lounge, where the store can hold special events in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Lewis Jewelers, 300 N. Maple Rd. (734) 994–5111. Mon.–Wed., Fri. & Sat. 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Thurs. 9:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Closed Sun. Expanded holiday hours begin around Thanksgiving.
lewisjewelers.com
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