

Mirror photo by Walt Frank
Al Beerbower stands guiding a counter at Beerbower Jewelers. Beerbower is retiring following much more than 40 yrs at the retailer.

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A longtime staple of downtown Hollidaysburg will be closing its doorways.
Beerbower Jewelers, established by Al and Millie Beerbower in 1954, is conducting a likely out of business sale.
“We will be open as a result of the vacations and wind down early subsequent year,” said operator Don Beerbower, who options to retire.
“You operate all of your lifetime to hopefully love your remaining years on this earth with your spouse and children and friends,” explained Beerbower, who will before long be 66.
His wife, Karen, retired very last 12 months immediately after 34 decades of instructing at Penn-Mont Academy. She has been paying out most of her time dwelling in the Pittsburgh location with their daughter Meghan and a few granddaughters — with a fourth youngster on the way.
“I am more youthful (than Karen) and desired to continue to keep performing, but now is a great time to put the loved ones again jointly. Had my wife stayed below, I could have semi-retired and stored going,” Beerbower explained. “It is not for economical seasons we had a pretty profitable, lengthy run listed here in Blair County.”
Beerbower Jewelers has experienced a huge affect on the small business group more than the decades.
“It’s managed a strong status for top quality and services. You often hate to lose a enterprise which is element of the area’s custom, but it is hard to steer clear of, particularly with the issues struggling with tiny corporations. Beerbower’s will be tricky to replace,” mentioned President/CEO Joe Hurd of the Blair County Chamber of Commerce.
“Don has contributed to the location not only economically, but in creating unique occasions even better with his unique assortment of beautiful jewellery. We congratulate Don Beerbower on his retirement,” the Hollidaysburg Space Neighborhood Partnership reported in a assertion.
Don was wired for the spouse and children company mainly because “he adopted his dad close to.”
He left his career as an accountant and begun entire time in 1980. He and his sister Jane ran the day-to-day operations considering the fact that the mid-1990s. Jane remaining the business about 10 years in the past, and Don turned sole proprietor in 2012.
Beerbower said he will miss out on his clients and the daily work.
“I do custom made parts it is a new problem each individual day. I never ever imagined I required to be in organization. Remaining in organization is like an dependancy, staying an entrepreneur you are betting on by yourself, a minor like a gambler. It was a rush,” Beerbower claimed.
Beerbower is a registered jeweler with the American Gem Culture. He also holds an AGS Certified Gemologist Appraiser title and is a Graduate Gemologist with GIA, the Gemological Institute of The usa.
Beerbower stated it is important to give back to the local community.
“Cyber outlets have much more profits on line, but they don’t give back to the neighborhood like the nearby corporations. We normally tried out to give back again to the community. We are enormous advocates for modest corporations because we are one. We were being a productive modest company that lasted 68 yrs,” Beerbower mentioned. “How lots of have lasted that extended?”
Beerbower claimed he has not shown the small business for sale but hopes a person will move forward to obtain it.
“We have been here 68 a long time, they could transform the crucial and begin the enterprise. I will adhere about for consulting and schooling. I would like to offer it and have it here for our buyers about the yrs,” Beerbower said.
Beerbower said he options to shell out more time with his family members. Together with Meghan and her daughters, his two sons, Nathan and A.J., every single have a few daughters as perfectly.
“I may discover out I do not like retirement and may well uncover one thing to do, get the job done element time. I will need to hold busy. I have hobbies and I like to play golfing. The grandkids will retain me fast paced, I am searching ahead to that,” Beerbower explained.
Mirror Personnel Author Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.