ZELIENOPLE — Drew Mathew has lived in the borough his entire life. It’s the place he grew up, the place where he raised his family.

And, it is the place where he makes his living, a third generation owner of Mathew Jewelers with his sister, Michelle, and his brother, Philip.

“The Zelienople area in general is a very nice place to raise a family and run a business,” said Mathew of the close-knit community of about 4,000 people. “It’s an easy, walkable town.”

Mathew decided that he wanted to go into the family jewelry business with his father, Andrew Mathew Jr., and went off to earn a degree from Gem City College in Quincy, Ill.

Mathew Jewelers has operated downtown for more that 60 years.

It was started by Mathew’s “grandpap” Andrew Mathew Sr. in 1947.

In 1956, Andrew Mathew Jr. and his wife, Helen, took over ownership from their father when the store was being renovated.

At that time, the store not only sold jewelry, but also typewriters, razors, luggage, silverware and china. Andrew and his wife lived in an apartment that connected to the store so they could be available whenever a customer was at the door.

In the 1990s, Andrew Mathew Jr. retired and the store’s third generation became owners. They decided to expand the business in 1997.

With the expansion, Mathew Jewelers now has its own manufacturing business, Mathew Jewelers Designs, and employs several goldsmiths who can repair, handcraft and manufacture jewelry.

About four years ago, the business expanded into the Streets of Cranberry on Route 19.

“We had always wanted a presence in Cranberry and in an upscale, mall type setting, when the Streets of Cranberry came along,” Mathew said.

“The last two years have been a little challenging because of the economy, but the business has been great otherwise,” said Mathew. “We plan on staying here another 60 years.”

Looking back, Mathew said much of his youth was spent at the borough swimming pool.

Later, he became active in many civic aspects of Zelienople.

He has been a member of the Zelienople Volunteer Fire Department since 1978 and served as its chief from 1994 to 2009.

Mathew is on the Butler County Fire Chief’s Association board of directors and is director of the Butler County Fire School.

He is a borough councilman and has served on the council for the past decade.

Mathew previously served on the Zelienople-Harmony Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is a member of the Zelienople-Harmony Business Association.

He is active volunteering at his church St. Gregory Roman Catholic.

Mathew and his family like to spend time on Conneaut Lake in the summer, where his in-laws have a cabin. That is where he met his wife, Mary Alice, 28 years ago.

Now a fourth generation is working to join the business.

Mathew’s son, Spencer, who graduated from Seneca Valley High School this past year, is enrolled at Butler County Community College.

Upon his BC3 graduation, Spencer, who is also a volunteer firefighter, plans to attend the Gem Institute of America in Carlsbad, Calif.

<B>Age:</B> 53<B>Address:</B> Zelienople<B>Family:</B> Wife, Mary Alice; son, Spencer, and daughter, Jessica<B>Employment: </B>Co-owner of Mathew Jewelers in Zelienople and Cranberry Township<B>Education: </B>Gem City College, Quincy, Ill.<B>Interests:</B> Spending summers on Conneaut Lake<B>Quote:</B> “The Zelienople area in general is a very nice place to raise a family and run a business.”