The four-sided clock outside Sylvan’s is a distinctive landmark for the store, which is located at the corner of Main Street and Hampton. Sylvan’s has been in business since 1897.
Like the four-sided clock standing outside the store, it seems that Sylvan’s has forever been part of the fabric of Columbia’s downtown.
In operation since 1897, ironically it’s one of the youngest stores now owned by the Schiffman family, which operates jewelry stores in six markets around the country including several in the Palo Alto Calif. area and in Greensboro, N.C.
The Schiffman family started its business in 1893 and purchased Sylvan’s in 1985 from Ned Lipscomb, who was related by marriage to the Sylvan family. According to Lane Schiffman, vice president of Schiffman’s Jewelers, which is part of the jewelry conglomerate owned by the family, the purchase was a handshake deal that “took less time to close than the drive from Greensboro.”
The Columbia store holds a special place in Lane Schiffman’s heart because of its unique architecture, solid reputation, and “magical presence.”
“Who could ever find a store these days that is as unique as Sylvan’s? There is no place I know of,” he said. “In addition, there are so many generations of families who have entrusted us with their most prized possessions. That’s what makes Sylvan’s such a solid location.”
Sylvan sales personnel Brian Pardue, Carolina Brice, and Carol Leahy; and store manager/master jeweler Noah Shearouse.
Not much had to change when the ownership was transferred, other than the introduction of what Schiffman calls “modern management.”
“The store already had a reputation for integrity and quality, so all we had to do was bring in the physical operations like payroll, lease negotiations, and other forms of techniques and practices that we had been used to doing,” he said.
In a business that is hyper-sensitive to economic fluctuations, Schiffman said Sylvan’s longevity can be attributed to its commitment to excellent service.
“ What we sell is what nobody ‘needs,’” he said. “So we have succeeded by offering timeless, quality jewelry that becomes meaningful to each family and their subsequent generations.”
Formerly known for items like tableware, Sylvan’s now concentrates on diamonds, jewelery, and timepieces in its 3,000- square foot facility.
Schiffman said the Columbia store is rebounding nicely from the economic downturn.
“Our fiscal year starts in October, so 2008 was a great one for us, but 2009 was a painful time,” he said. “We saw a recovery in 2010 and 2011, and 2012 was a record-breaking year. We are on pace for dynamic growth in the next fiscal year.”
Sylvan’s is Columbia’s official Rolex distributor and the area representative for “Hearts on Fire” diamonds. The store is located at 1500 Main Street, in a building that is on the National Register of Historic Homes. More information can be found at www.sylvans.com.
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