Stephens Jewelry closing its doors - Heber Springs Sun-Times
There are a few jewelry stores in Hot Springs and one of them has been around for a long, long time. Stephens Jewelers is closing its doors after everything has been sold, and I mean everything. The owner, Steven Kirsch, talked with the Hot Springs Village Voice about how the business came to be and what’s next for this gracious, humble man.
It all began back in 1937 when his grandfather, Sam, who was in the jewelry business, was driving from New York to California. His car broke down in Hot Springs and he had to wait for parts, which, he was told, could take up to a month to arrive. In the meantime, Sam met several business people and decided to buy a business – the Mattar Brothers Auction House, where the selling of jewelry also took place. Soon, Kirsch's father, Eugene, came to help Sam with the business.
One year later he returned to New York, got married and returned to Hot Springs. “And we’ve been here ever since,” said Kirsch.
Kirsch remembers being a child of about 5 or 6 years old and sitting on his grandfather’s lap while he graded diamonds. After attending college in Oklahoma, he went to work at the auction house, where he, too, graded diamonds. After a few years away from the auction house, he decided to open a jewelry store in what is now Regions Bank. In 1986, after 10 years at that location, Kirsch decided to purchase property and build the structure that is today Stephens Jewelry on Central Avenue.
He said they didn’t want the building to have a contemporary look. “The idea was down-home Southern comfort,” said Kirsch. Even the door was specially made and the large door handles came from part of a fireplace.
“The idea of opening a store was to bring fine jewelry to Hot Springs and we wanted to sell jewelry that was timeless, that would be passed down to family,” said Kirsch. “I think we’ve been good community players, have given of ourselves to support worthy causes,” he added.
The store will have discounts up to 70 percent as the “everything must go” sale continues. Kirsch estimated he has at least 1,400 pieces for sale. “Forty years worth of jewelry. It’s been 40 years of fun. We’ve put a lot of smiles on people’s faces,” he said. The display cases, the furniture, the fixtures, everything goes.
So what’s next for Kirsch? Fishing, boating and golf are all on his radar. “I’m looking forward to catching up on life. I want to get out and see the state,” Kirsch said, then noted he wants to learn how to crappie fish as well.
Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, call Stephens Jewelry at 501-624-4667.
