Starting a new chapter

Kandhari said he took out a 10-year lease on the 900-square-foot space when he purchased the business from the store’s original owner, Geoffrey Stern, in 2012. But he learned this fall that an option to renew the lease for the latter five years of the lease was not forcible and that he would need to move out of the space before the end of the year. So when he was presented with an idea to sell as much merchandise in his store as possible to raise the funds needed to build out a new space, Kandhari decided to take a chance.

“I was like, I guess I don’t have a choice,” he said. “I’m still young, I want to stay in business.”

It’s not the first time Kandhari, 42, has taken risks for the business. Prior to beginning work at the store some seven years ago, Kandhari had been a vice president with Christian Bernard Jewelers and was responsible for managing 15 of the European company’s retail stores in the United States. After meeting Stern at a jewelry conference in Las Vegas, Kandhari, who was then living in Washington, D.C., made a cross-country trip to see the store for himself.

He remembers driving up and down Walnut Street searching for the store, unable to locate it for a several minutes before looking up and seeing the small space on the second floor of the building.

“Google said, ‘you’ve arrived, you’ve arrived,’” he said. “And I’m like, ‘that’s so weird, I just cannot find the store.’”

Kandhari wasn’t cheered much by the inside, which he said had older furniture and cases, a far cry from the high-end stores he had been running. But he said the store filled up quickly with customers, and when he took a close look at the pieces Stern was offering, he quickly understood why.

“I’m like, ‘wow, OK, this is like literally a hole-in-the-wall place and the cases are awful but the merchandise is beautiful,’” he said.

He said the care Stern and his employees took with each piece of jewelry, vetting a stone’s quality and source, having professional goldsmiths ensure each stone is secure in its setting and providing repair, polishing and cleaning services without charge, convinced him the business would be a good fit for him.

Since he joined the business, he said he’s worked on improving the jewelry displays, installing a new sign so customers can easily spot the store and opening a second location in Campbell last year. He said the store’s sales have increased from $2 million to $5 million a year in recent years with more than 60 percent of his business comes from engagements and weddings, adding that the store is also known for working with clients to make custom pieces.

On a visit to the store with her sister-in-law, Morgan Hill resident Kathy Sampognar said what often draws her into a jewelry store is the personal connection and whether pieces are unique.

“It’s always nice to see what people have, especially if they do their own work,” she said.

But even with the changes he’s made, Kandhari has been focused on maintaining the level of service he witnessed when he first walked in the store, which he said has resulted in many of the same customers coming back several times in the 35 years it’s stood in the same spot.

JoAnn Alfred, store manager, described the influx of customers during the liquidation as controlled chaos, which she said is indicative of the support from the business’ customers.

“It’s fun,” she said. “There’s a lot of excitement.”

Alfred said the transition out of the store’s original location is bittersweet, noting a new location could make the store more accessible to customers who have trouble walking up stairs.

Kandhari is hoping to finalize a new lease on a ground-floor space on Laurel Street by the end of the year, which he hopes will mark a new chapter for the business. Though he’s looking forward to planning what the new store could look like, Kandhari is determined to maintain the quality of the jewelry in the cases and the personal relationships he and his staff have developed with customers based on the stories they share and those behind the pieces they offer.

“That’s what keeps us different,” he said. “I want to keep that fire going.”

Geoffrey’s Diamonds is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays at 626 Walnut St. during the liquidation sale. Visit geoffreysdiamonds.com for more information.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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