When Bill Levine met his wife Birdie he discovered on their first date that her dream was to own a jewelry store.
It was a dream the couple went on to share for more than 45 years with Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York.
But now the beloved jewelry store owned by the couple has closed down after more than 100 years in business.
Van Cott Jewelers was founded in 1914 in Binghamton, New York, and later was acquired by the Levine family.
Bill and Birdie took over the business from Bill’s father Herbert in 1979.
‘This is something we have to do,’ they wrote on the company’s website in April. ‘For over a century, Van Cott Jewelers has been honored to serve this incredible community.
‘Thank you for your loyalty, your trust and for allowing us to be a part of your lives for all these years. The memories we’ve shared with you will stay with us forever.’
‘We’ve been part of so many special moments — helping you pick out the perfect engagement ring, celebrating milestones, or simply finding the piece of jewelry that makes your heart sing,’ the Levines wrote in a thanks to their customers on Facebook.
Third-generation owners Birdie and Bill Levine are closing the store after more than 100 years
The couple said ‘recent life-changing events’ had led them to reevaluate their priorities, National Jeweler reported.
Van Cott specialized in engagement rings, earrings bracelets and pendants.
It remained popular over the decades, being voted number one jeweler in the Southern Tier for 38 years.
Loyal customers and employees shared their grief at the store’s closure and their happy memories.
‘5 years ago I retired from Van Cott Jewelers, it was the best family to work for after 44 years & so appreciate the “family of gems” there’ former employee Jessie Murphy wrote on Facebook.
‘My ex husband bought my ring from Bill’s father back in the day. We were young and had little money but he sold it to us on credit,’ Theresa Detrick recalled.
‘Through the years I got anniversary gifts ONLY from Van Cotts because they believed in us.
‘The marriage didn’t last but the pieces I got from there still do. In fact I handed the ring down as a family heirloom.’
Van Cott specialized in engagement rings as well as necklaces and bracelets
The New York store held a sale before it closed its doors for the final time
Another customer Kate Bidwell recalled her family’s love of the store: ‘My mom passed down her love of Van Cotts to my sister and I and we both asked our husbands go there for our engagement and wedding rings.’
The store was founded by immigrant Rubine ‘Ruby’ Levine after he worked in a jewelry factory during the First World War.
Levine was fluent in eight languages and quickly built up clientele among the local immigrant shoe workers employed by The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company.
‘My grandfather Ruby always taught us that it was better to make friends than customers,’ Bill told the National Jeweler.
‘My dad, Herbert, believed that everyone should leave our store with a smile.’
‘His success resulted from his integrity and humanity as he diligently went door to door selling anything from wedding rings and religious items to eye glasses,’ the store explained on its website.
‘Thank you for your loyalty, your trust and for allowing us to be a part of your lives for all these years,’ the Levines wrote.
‘We hope to see you before our final day and we want to express just how much your support has meant to both of us.’
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