Perfect Gem
By Tricia Despres
By Tricia Despres
After more than 60 years in business, Wilmette Jewelers closed its doors for business back in January. At the time, owner Gayle Inbinder expressed her hope that she could find the right buyer for the property—someone who shared the family-based values that the long-time jewelry store had always been known for.
Soon after, she found that right buyer in Bella Cosa Jewelers.
“Having a second store is a natural progression for us,” explains Joseph Molfese, who is the proud owner of Bella Cosa Jewelers in Wilmette alongside his wife Amy. “We had been looking on the North Shore for two years when Wilmette Jewelers announced that they would be retiring, and we felt as if it was meant to be. The building and the space was really the perfect fit for us.”
Located at 1149 Wilmette Avenue, the new location of Bella Cosa Jewelers opened in mid-November and Molfese says he is eager to greet many new customers during the always-bustling holiday season.
“The holidays are the time of year where shoppers are looking for that perfect gift, so I’m excited that many people will be coming in to see the new jewelry store in town,“ he says.
Of course, Bella Cosa Jewelers have long considered the North Shore as home to an important segment of their existing customer base, with many of them travelling to Bella Cosa’s Willowbrook location for their fine jewelry needs throughout the years.
“We have clients in the area and they were always so warm and friendly,” says Molfese, who opened Bella Cosa back in 2000 and moved to his current location in Willowbrook in 2008. “This new location already feels like home because of that.”
Bella Cosa has long been known to carry a large selection of GIA graded loose diamonds, beautiful fine jewelry, and gemstone jewelry including prestigious lines such as Tacori, Simon G., Jack Kelege and Tag Heuer However, Wilmette’s Bella Cosa Jewelers will be a bit different from the Willowbrook store.
“There is a consistent look and feel of both of our stores,” says Molfese. “However, the Wilmette location has an open concept where it will be easier to walk around with a client to separate areas. To me, it’s just that much more inviting.”
It’s this inviting feeling that has always been part of the success of Bella Cosa, which is a family business.
“I love that my kids are able to see us grow this business,” says Molfese, who is a father of four. “Being a role model to my kids is very important, and I love that I can ignite a fire in them with our entrepreneurial spirit.”
And yes, Bella Cosa not only values their customers, but the community in which they work.
“Wilmette residents are known to value their local businesses and in turn their local businesses support local community organizations,” he says. “Giving back is an important part of being a local business. We expect to be a permanent part of Wilmette. We made a significant investment in the building itself and did that because we are expecting to be here for a very long time.”
Bella Cosa Jewelers is located at 1149 Wilmette Avenue in Wilmette. For more information, visit mybella.com.
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