Liz-El Jewel Box in Ambler recently announced that they will be closing for good on February 15.
Owner Elizabeth Black, now age 70, said the gift shop at 103 E Butler Avenue will have a retirement sale leading up to the closure.
“I can’t wait. After 48 years, it’s time. I’m getting rid of everything in the store. Anything I have here is for sale,” Black said. “I’ve watched things come and go over the years, and Ambler’s been good to me. It’s a beautiful place to be. The people are lovely, the customers become your friends.”
Black has been in Ambler for 38 years.
“I’m moving to Florida next month,” she said.
In 2019, Ambler Main Street posted the following on behalf of Liz-El’s 30th anniversary:
Liz-El Jewel Box was erected out of the Original Montgomeryville Mart. What began as a humble hobbie was replaced with a rewarding career and place of business for Bobby and Liz Black. Beginning in 1980, they were welcomed into the Mart community as the “New Jewelers” on the block. With the Mart being a unique place to eat, shop and for some to “hang out”, a regular group of customers, passer bys and relationships were developed. In 1989, Bobby and Liz were settling into their home in Upper Dublin when they transferred these “Mart” roots to 103E. Butler Avenue in Ambler. Bobby and Liz’s gratification and sense of community has continued to grow the business for an additional 30 years at this location. Liz-El Jewel Box has always focused on their sense of community and maintaining a cozy family friendly environment as they developed long lasting and intergenerational relationships that many began at the Mart. Liz-El Jewel Box has also prided themselves on discounted prices to keep customers and families coming back. Bobby and Liz have spend the past 39 years educating their customers on diamonds, platinum, gold and silver.
As Liz-El Jewel Box continued to evolve from a hobby to a full establishment, Bobby and Liz began to learn the convention of the business as Bobby attended Jewelry School in Jupiter, Florida. Bobby and Liz continue to attend National Jewelry Conventions across in the country and Seminars yearly to keep up to date on trends and the Jewelry forecast. Liz takes pride in selecting every piece of jewelry that is stocked at Liz-El Jewel Box.
In 1994, Bobby and Liz Black won the National Black MBA Association Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The key to winning this award was their keen focus on customer service and their commitment to carry and design only high quality merchandise.
Ultimately, Bobby and Liz’s children Kenyatta and Nekicia, became a part of the business early in life. Kenyatta has kept with the tradition as a jeweler and Nekicia ventured into a career in education.
Photos: Ambler Main Street