The clearance banner, turns out, was a last gasp. 15th Ave E. lost a business this week. Donna S. Ritchey Jewelery is no more.
Apparently the small store was doomed before it decided to put up the clearance banners. The listing for the space has an update date of 11/21.
What to say about a business I never went inside, never really saw anybody else in either and can’t find a single thing written about on the Internet? Even with every table in nearby Smith full and understanding that a small independent jewelry store run like this one is a thing of the past, walking by the empty storefront on an icy Seattle night made me sad and fearful about the economic downturn for the first time. This will pass. But when? In the meantime, the weakest shut down and fade away. Nighty night, Donna.
I didn’t recognize the name of this place (although I sorta knew the jewelry store on 15th) but when I google mapped it I realized that it’s known as DSR (not only the owner’s initials but the awning also says Diamonds, Sapphires, Rubies). And the business had been there since 1988, apparently.
Ah, great job. I dug around for records on the Donna S. Richey biz name but found nothing. (makes me think about somebody doing this in future digging into the demise of CHS :) )
State says they were incorporated in Feb. 89 — so, yeah, 20 years and poof. Name on the corp filing is a Seattle lawyer so I’ll give the firm a call to see if they can put me in touch with somebody from the biz.
Yeah, this is one of those “how did they stay open for so long?” businesses for me. In the 10+ years I’ve lived near 15th, I’ve never seen anyone going into or coming out of the jewelry shop. It’s the mysterious sibling of Tilden … another longtime 15th Ave shop I’ve never understood.
They were the only store on the Hill that had my Bulova watch batteries.
I went in there when my fiance and I were looking for an engagment ring. Donna wouldn’t listen to what I wanted, and kept pushing me towards items way out of my price range. She was actually pretty rude to me, but was nicer to my fiance. I don’t know what was up with her, but we got out of there pretty quickly. She left me with a creepy feeling.
My family gives me old jewelry from time to time, and they were who I’d go to to get it repaired or cleaned. They were nice, reasonably priced, didn’t sell my stuff when I forgot about it for 6 months. They also had loud and barky little dogs! I’m not sure who I’d go to to get stuff fixed anymore, I can’t think of any other jewelry stores nearby.
The jewelry store was originally owned by Michael Farrell – for over 12 years that I personally know of. He also has a store on Sand Point. He sold the 15th Ave. E store to Donna a couple of years ago or so. When it was Farrell’s Jewelers, it was staffed by a very knowledgeable woman who kept regular 9-5 hours. Donna is more eclectic. The shop’s hours were not consistent, Donna opened in the afternoon whenever she arrived and she stayed late into the night (often past midnight) after the store was closed, repairing jewelry. Some people loved her Scotties, others not so much. She previously worked out of an office in a high-rise downtown, and was very successful. Her style didn’t work so well for a store-front in a neighborhood. I hope she prospers with the next incarnation of her business.
Try Tiempo at 1511 14th Ave, (206) 726-8551, between Pike and Pine. They are about all things related to watches and clocks, with a smattering of jewelry. If they don’t have your Bulova batteries, I’m confident they can get them. They are a great store – I have been consistently impressed with their problem-solving skills and appreciation of a challenge. http://www.tiempowatch.com/
My husband and I got our wedding bands from this wonderful woman. Yes, she had dogs, but they were cute. And I’m not much of a dog person. More than that, Donna was the only person in Seattle willing to resize my antique engagement ring, did it for a very reasonable price and supplied our bands. She even offered to solder my ring to my wedding band for free after our wedding-as a gift. The woman was so incredibly nice to both of us and it’s a shame she got the pinch. And really, does cap hill need another hair salon?
I am in total shock. I went by the shop today to find out it is a freakin hair salon!!! I had done a trade with Donna a while back. I traded old engagement ring settings for a plain gold band and she set some of my own diamonds in it. We had a great relationship. I had given her other jewelry to be fixed, and she was holding old gold jewelry of mine that was to be used as payment for the repairs. She was always waaaaay behind on the work. It took months of calling to finally get my band set and ready to pick up. With the repairs I knew it would take her awhile, and I went in there a few months ago, and she hadn’t finished them yet, months after I left them with her. I can’t believe she would not give me a call to pick up my jewelry finished or not, if she was going out of business!! I have no idea how to get ahold of her now, I only had the shop number. I want my jewelry back damn it!!
I have a contact number for Donna. Drop me a line chs at capitolhillseattle.com
That’s too bad- the lady fixed my Seiko watches reasonably, and in a timely manner. I guess I’ll stop directing people to have things repaired there! Where on The Hill can I send them now?