Joden Girl
Baubles, Bling and Celebratory Things
Today, not many kids are turning down scholarships – but in 1968, that was exactly what Joe Murawski did. Fresh out of high school, he turned down a football scholarship, jumped in his car and drove to Los Angeles. His father was a master bench jeweler and had been mentoring Joe since he was just a boy. Call it intuition or divine intervention, Joe made it to California and promptly enrolled at the Gemological Institute of America where he would earn the most coveted degree in the jewelry industry – Graduate Gemologist.
Fast forward to Friday the 13th, 1970… Carlisle T. Hall was on the radio announcing the opening of a new store in Grove City. “Make Friday the 13th your lucky day at Joden Jewelers!” Two young men (Joe + Den = Joden) partnered to start the store. So, for those of you who have always wondered how the store got its name – now you know! Joe still tells stories of the glory days. And as they say, the rest is history…
Denny left the business early on, and Joe continued on his own. Until 1995 when his son Jay came on board; Jay would eventually make his own journey to California to earn the same degree his father earned more than twenty-five years before. Joe has said “I still like coming to work every day. My son Jay has made it even better. He is the best person I’ve ever known and has played an integral role in the development of our company.”
While this family-owned and operated business has become a worldwide source of the finest antique, estate and modern jewelry – they still believe in small-town values and old-fashioned customer service. The success of the business stems from the overwhelming support of the community and customers like you. And so, today, while we celebrate our golden anniversary, fifty years of success… our hat is off to you. We thank our customers, our family, and our friends. Without you, none of this would have been possible.
If you’re in the area, we will be having a small open house today. We invite you to join us for this momentous occasion. Raise a glass with Joe and Jay! If you can’t join us… give us a call or send us a text. We’d love to hear from you!
“You can go to a museum and look, or come to Joden and celebrate!”
Written by Carrie Martin
Photos by Michael Sahaida
