Dazzling Mega-Renovations Afoot at Iconic Jewelry Store

Dazzling Mega-Renovations Afoot at Iconic Jewelry Store

Rendering courtesy Identity Architects

HAVING SERVED THE Houston community for nearly 50 years, family-owned I W Marks Jewelers is renovating its 7,500 square-foot retail space on Bellaire Blvd., in partnership with Houston-based firm, Identity Architects.


“It’s healthy for a business to evaluate every few years and make changes if necessary,” explains Brad Marks in a release. “We’re making dramatic changes to ensure we remain the top jewelry and watch destination in Houston for decades to come.”

The current renovations go beyond an interior refresh and mark a fresh start for the brand. The mod new space, expected to be completed by the fall, will tout a private viewing room and sleek, minimalistic display cases, plus a bar and seating lounge.

In addition to the renovations, I W Marks announced it will carry Michael M. Konstantino, Memoire and Lashbrook, and will add watchmakers Franck Muller, Carl F. Bucherer, Angelus and Oris to its impressive menu

“For the past 44 years, we have continually evolved and transformed the store to provide our customers the luxury experience synonymous with I W Marks, and we feel it is time to revamp the space once again,” says Marks.

Founded in 1978 by Diane and Irv Marks, I W Marks has grown from a 500-square-foot store to today’s 7,500 square-foot retail space. Their son Brad took over the family business in 2008, and has continued to uphold the store’s reputation of first-class customer service.

Today, he and his wife Joanna frequent galas and social events on behalf of the brand, dedicated to serving the local community with monetary and in-kind charitable donations.

Style
Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

Kendall and Susan Plank, Noel Wise, Anna Osborn, Michelle Koskie

MORE THAN 140 lovely ladies showed up at Tootsies to shop, sip and celebrate Dec My Room, the local nonprofit responsible for personalizing and decorating hospital rooms for pediatric and young-adult patients.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

Salted Coconut Latik Ice Cream Sandwich at Lil' Koffeteria

THERE'S SOME INTERESTING news coming out of The Quad at Britmoore, the adaptive, mixed-use development fashioned of repurposed industrial warehouses in Spring Branch near Memorial.

Keep Reading Show less