Lynn Maupin has been a Maurice’s Jewelers customer for as long as she can remember and for 23 years the popular jewelry store has operated from a 2,500- square-foot space off South Dixie Highway and 136th Street. Imagine Maupin’s surprise when she decided to shop at the store recently and found that it was no longer there.
“I wasn’t aware they had moved,” Maupin said.
Last month, Maurice’s Jewelers moved 20 blocks north to a larger location, a 4,000- square-foot space at 11865 S. Dixie Hwy. with more parking and better visibility. There will be an official grand opening on Nov. 19.
“We have been telling our customers about the move for almost a year now,” said owner Andrew Koppel. “But I guess Lynn has not been around for a while.”
Maurice’s Jewelers was founded more than 75 years ago by watchmaker Maurice Koppel, a New Yorker and native Italian who opened his first store in Downtown Miami in 1935. Through 50 years, the late patriarch operated the business with his wife Leah, 77, and son Andrew from the downtown location and a second store on Bird Road until his death in 1984. The business later relocated to Pinecrest, where it is now operated by Andrew and his daughters, Meaghan, 27, Erin, 25, and Kierstin, 22.
“This is truly a family business in every sense of the word,” said Andrew. “We have three generations of Koppels running this business that my father built from scratch. I think he would be proud at what we have accomplished and how we’ve transformed his original vision.”
At Maurice, customers can buy watches, bracelets, rings and necklaces, and the in-store jewelry experts also custom design exquisite pieces or repair a treasured broken keepsake.
“We will do whatever you want,” said Andrew Koppel.
The store even buys gold, silver and diamonds and also carries the exclusive Pandora line designed for and dedicated to Breast Cancer awareness. Maurice’s Jewelers soon will open a Pandora store in the Falls Shopping Center. Daughter Meaghan says the store “should open just in time for the holiday season.”
Daughter Erin sells her own line of affordable handmade jewelry — stackable bracelets made of charms, stones, gold and sterling silver. She studied the craft in fashion school last year and decided to sell her creations at the retail level.
“We take this family business very seriously,” she said. Andrew says the goal is to “continue passing on the torch from generation to generation and be around for several more decades.” Maurice’s Jewelers is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, call 305-253- 5740 or go to <www.mauricesjewelers.com>.
