INDIANAPOLIS — A jewelry store in downtown Indianapolis is getting ready to shut its doors after 105 years.
Windsor Jewelry opened in 1919 and has been a downtown staple, but now, big yellow signs say the shop is going out of business.
"The last thing I wanted to do was leave this store. I don't want to see it go anywhere," said Greg Bires, owner of Windsor Jewelry.
The beloved shop first opened on Illinois Street before moving to its current spot on Meridian Street. It was owned by Sig Asher, who then passed it down to his son-in-law Herman Logan. Greg and Lynn Bires then took over the business in 1998.
Over the past century-plus, Windsor Jewelry has survived the Great Depression, World War II, multiple recessions and, most recently, the pandemic and riots in 2020.
But ultimately, it's retirement that has the couple closing up shop.
"Unfortunately, my age caught up with me and I have a lot of grandchildren that I'm not able to visit as often as I like," Bires said.
He said it's a bittersweet decision, knowing how much the business has meant to generations of customers.
"A lot of my customers and myself are really good friends now. So, they are here to support me and the store, which is pretty emotional," Bires said.
When asked if he would sell the business, Greg said he's not ruling it out, but knows it's harder these days to secure funding. In the meantime, he’s doing a liquidation sale of the remaining jewelry in the store.
"It means a lot to me. I wanted to make sure everybody knows how grateful I am for their support over these years," Bires said.
Bires said the plan is to officially close in mid-January.
