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Tracy Jewelers celebrates new location

Manager Tami Stauffer, left, and Maureen Tracy, pose in the recently opened Tracy Jewelers building. (J. BART RAYNIAK / The Spokesman-Review)
Juli Wasson Correspondent
Manager Tami Stauffer, left, and Maureen Tracy, pose in the recently opened Tracy Jewelers building. (J. BART RAYNIAK / The Spokesman-Review)

A longtime Spokane Valley jeweler has a sparkling new home.

Tracy Jewelers opened doors to its new location at 106 N. Evergreen Road on Nov. 1, following several months of preparations to create the custom, state-of-the-art building that features locally crafted walnut display cases and a walk-in vault that secures the inventory each night.

The new $1.5 million store is a gem to owners Maureen Tracy and her husband, David Hansen.

“It’s what I’ve wanted to do all my life,” Tracy says. “So this is where Tracy Jewelers will stay.”

The new building’s brick exterior is accented with copper decoration that is sealed to remain shiny, and it includes several north facing windows – the best natural light to showcase and study jewels. The store occupies 4,000 square feet. Another 2,500 square feet of storefront is available for tenants.

Craig Woodard of WAG Engineering, a third-generation customer of Tracy Jewelers, designed the building. It was constructed by another customer T.W. Clark Construction. Additional custom – and customer – work includes the display cases by Eric Hattamer of Affordable Custom Cabinets, and a gas fireplace by Falco’s, another longtime area family business. The front doors were custom made by Brian King and the glass atop the walnut display cases was created by River City Glass.

“It was very important to us to involve people who have been customers,” Tracy said. “That was really important to me because I wanted people who were connected to us.”

Tracy, 55, has been part of the family business all her life. Her parents, Patrick and Noran Tracy, opened Tracy Jewelers in the Spokane Valley in 1950. The original location was near Argonne and Sprague, and it relocated to Sullivan and Sprague in 1994. The new location is the company’s third.

“I used to ride my bike down and take my Dad his lunch. … then I’d help him on Saturdays,” Tracy recalled. “I always loved the store. I never tired of it.”

Tracy is one of 10 children, and she worked at the store for some 20 years prior to purchasing it from her older brother Leo in 1994. She is a Gemological Institute of America graduate and an American Gem Society-Certified Gemologist Appraiser. An open house is scheduled today to showcase the new building and new jewelry selections. Representatives from several designers will be available during the open house.