‘We leave an indelible mark on people’s lives’

Matt Fitzgibbons, who purchased the store at the corner of Hillcrest Boulevard from the family who founded it in 1957, said he is hopeful to find someone who will step in and preserve its legacy.

“This was our dream. And we are really praying we can find someone who can take the chance,” said Matt Fitzgibbons, 72, who bought the store as he was transitioning out of a 30-year career in the corporate jewelry industry.

But as he’s witnessed the industry shift, Matt Fitzgibbons is realistic about the challenges facing an independent merchant amidst the rise of online retailers. He tempered the recognition of that hardship though with a belief that a jeweler serving the local community could still find a way to succeed in Millbrae.

“This is really a golden opportunity to cater to the Asian community,” said Matt Fitzgibbons.

Regardless of who may ultimately be interested in purchasing the company, Fitzgibbons Charney said her hope too is that the business will survive through upcoming generations.

“We’d love for the tradition to continue,” said Fitzgibbons Charney, who started working in the store as a teen and spent many of her formative years alongside her parents in the jewelry industry.

While it may seem to some that it would be a young girl’s dream to spend the early part of her life surrounded by diamonds, gold and other valuable minerals, Fitzgibbons Charney said her exposure to jewelry at a young age largely immunized her to such thrills.

Instead, she said she grew a greater appreciation for the bond that can be fostered with clients who depend on a jeweler for expertise in purchases often shared during life’s most meaningful moments.

“We leave an indelible mark on people’s lives,” said Fitzgibbons Charney, who frequently shares her cellphone number with customers who will text her at all hours asking questions about their jewelry.

Matt Fitzgibbons too said the countless connections formed with customers over the years will be the part he misses most about the business. He likened the lifetime link built between patrons and their jeweler to the type of relationship some share with their family doctor, accountant or other professionals repeatedly visited for decades and potentially generations.

Rosalie Capella is one of those customers who has visited Millbrae Jewelers for years and is uncertain where she will take her business following its closure.

“I wouldn’t trust my jewelry with anyone else,” she said. “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do without them.”

The Fitzgibbons family faces an uncertain future too, as they plan to sell their Foster City home following the store’s shuttering and ultimately pursue a life of leisure in retirement.

Karen Fitzgibbons said the ending is bittersweet, as she knows the transition will cost her friends and associates she has grown to care for deeply.

“This was Matt’s dream and I came along for the ride,” said Karen Gitzgibbons, who specializes in curating the store’s Swarovski Crystal offerings. “I’m going to miss the relationships I’ve made. But I won’t miss the work.”

More candidly, she said she is ready to focus the energy which in the past has been reserved for running the store into something a bit more enjoyable.

“We are tired,” she said. “It’s time to have some fun.”

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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