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About Carl V Reck
Carl V. Reck Jewelers serving Charlotte for 30 Years
Believe it or not, Carl Reck Jewelers has not always been part of downtown Charlotte's landscape.
Three decades ago in 1973, Dan DeLeeuw bought a one-third partnership in the store with two partners in the second Carl Reck Jewelers. The original store was located in Kalamazoo.
They felt there was a real need for a jewelry store in town, and they opened the store at its present location, 106 Cochran, and by 1977 the store was doing well and Dan DeLeeuw bought the partners out.
DeLeeuw says the business has changed over the years. One of the major changes is the inventory the store carries. In the early days, jewelry stores carried silverware, giftware and other gift-related items. Today those kinds of products are gone and jewelry is the mainstay.
"Customers are willing to spend more on jewelry, and they want bigger pieces," DeLeeuw said. "As a result, we're trying to become more involved in the high-end jewelry market."
Service has also become a more significant part of the business. Carl Reck Jewelers does on-site gold smithing, through DeLeeuw's son, Matt, who is a certified gold smith, as well as Jon Arendsen, who comes in two days a week.
"We're doing a lot more jewelry repair and gold smithing on the premises than we ever have," Deleeuw said.
An integral part of the business was Eleni Nicolaou-Sparks, who worked with DeLeeuw at the store for 28 years before passing away from cancer.
DeLeeuw said the success of the business has been built on customer service. "Eleni and I felt that if we make the customers happy, they'll come back. We try our best to please them, with fair prices and excellent service. We fix almost anything right here in the store."
Carl Reck Jewelers carries a wide variety of jewelry, including Seiko time pieces, Art Carved class rings, Leslie chains, and Carl V. Reck brand swiss made watches.
In his 30 years in Charlotte, Deleeuw said the downtown has changed dramatically.
"When I opened there were two other jewelry stores downtown," DeLeeuw said. "It was all retail and parking was a problem."
Employees at the store include DeLeeuw and his son Matt, Pam Burt, Katie Kirkham and Carrie Mulvaney. Long-time employee Dotti Lobsinger retired some time ago after 12 years with the company.
By AL WILSON, Editor, Lansing Community Papers
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