Mirror picture by Walt Frank
Al Beerbower stands behind a counter at Beerbower Jewelers. Beerbower is retiring after greater than 40 years on the retailer.

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A longtime staple of downtown Hollidaysburg will probably be closing its doorways.

Beerbower Jewelers, established by Al and Millie Beerbower in 1954, is conducting a going out of enterprise sale.

“We will probably be open via the vacations and wind down early subsequent 12 months,” stated proprietor Don Beerbower, who plans to retire.

“You’re employed your entire life to hopefully get pleasure from your remaining years on this planet with your loved ones and pals,” stated Beerbower, who will quickly be 66.

His spouse, Karen, retired final 12 months after 34 years of educating at Penn-Mont Academy. She has been spending most of her time residing within the Pittsburgh space with their daughter Meghan and three granddaughters — with a fourth little one on the way in which.

“I’m youthful (than Karen) and wished to maintain working, however now is an efficient time to place the household again collectively. Had my spouse stayed right here, I could have semi-retired and stored going,” Beerbower stated. “It isn’t for monetary seasons; we had a really profitable, future right here in Blair County.”

Beerbower Jewelers has had a big effect on the enterprise group over time.

“It’s maintained a strong fame for high quality and repair. You all the time hate to lose a enterprise that’s a part of the world’s custom, however it’s laborious to keep away from, particularly with the challenges dealing with small companies. Beerbower’s will probably be robust to exchange,” stated President/CEO Joe Hurd of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce.

“Don has contributed to the world not solely economically, however in making particular events even higher along with his distinctive number of stunning jewellery. We congratulate Don Beerbower on his retirement,” the Hollidaysburg Space Neighborhood Partnership stated in a press release.

Don was wired for the household enterprise as a result of “he adopted his dad round.”

He left his job as an accountant and began full time in 1980. He and his sister Jane ran the day-to-day operations for the reason that mid-Nineteen Nineties. Jane left the enterprise about 10 years in the past, and Don turned sole proprietor in 2012.

Beerbower stated he’ll miss his prospects and the each day work.

“I do customized items; it’s a new problem every single day. I by no means thought I wished to be in enterprise. Being in enterprise is like an habit, being an entrepreneur you might be betting on your self, slightly like a gambler. It was a rush,” Beerbower stated.

Beerbower is a registered jeweler with the American Gem Society. He additionally holds an AGS Licensed Gemologist Appraiser title and is a Graduate Gemologist with GIA, the Gemological Institute of America.

Beerbower stated it is very important give again to the group.

“Cyber shops have extra gross sales on-line, however they don’t give again to the group just like the native companies. We all the time tried to offer again to the group. We’re enormous advocates for small companies as a result of we’re one. We had been a profitable small enterprise that lasted 68 years,” Beerbower stated. “What number of have lasted that lengthy?”

Beerbower stated he has not listed the enterprise on the market however hopes somebody will step ahead to purchase it.

“We now have been right here 68 years, they might flip the important thing and begin the enterprise. I’ll stick round for consulting and coaching. I might like to promote it and have it right here for our prospects over time,” Beerbower stated.

Beerbower stated he plans to spend extra time along with his household. Together with Meghan and her daughters, his two sons, Nathan and A.J., every have three daughters as effectively.

“I could discover out I don’t like retirement and will discover one thing to do, work half time. I have to preserve busy. I’ve hobbies and I wish to play golf. The grandkids will preserve me busy, I’m trying ahead to that,” Beerbower stated.

Mirror Employees Author Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.