Golden Dreams Jewelers still recovering
CENTER TWP — Last May, retirement seemed right around the road for the owners of Golden Dreams Jewelers, but an unexpected crash put the brakes on those plans.
Shortly before 9 p.m. on May 20, 2024, a truck veered off Sunset Drive, which runs directly behind the store on North Main Street Extension, and crashed through the store’s roof. It destroyed the bathrooms, break room and part of the show room.
One year later, significant repairs have been made to the building, but the work is not done yet. However, the Chilcotts said once the ball was rolling, progress has been fairly steady.
“Plumbers were here yesterday to get started on the plumbing, and electricians were here last week,” Don Chilcott said.
He said repairs are currently bottlenecked until the HVAC is properly installed. Then, only a few projects remain, such as the walls and the flooring. The couple estimates that repairs will wrap up in the next few months.
The past year of repairs have not been easy on the couple. Don Chilcott brought up how the truck damaged both the gas and water lines of the building, leaving themselves and contractors to work through the winter with no heating and through the summer with no air conditioning. During this winter’s coldest days, he braved the weather to let contractors in.
Furthermore, the Chilcotts called the repairs a “one step forward, two steps back” process. The couple have balanced unexpected problems, such as the need to replace things that are so old they became obsolete, that have extended the process.
The Chilcotts said they’ve done their best to see the silver lining in the situation. Before the crash, they planned to find a tenant to take over the space. Once repairs are done, they will be able to offer any prospective tenant a newly refurbished space.
“I mean, now we can see the end,” Don Chilcott said. “Things are coming together now. We’re checking a lot of things off our list and just getting there.”
However, some emotional scars remain for both members. While the repairs have been a major source of stress for the couple, Shirley Chilcott said she experiences a feeling of dread every time she goes to the back of the store.
“I was getting into the vault, and I would hear a car and I ran. I just ran, and I’m thinking, ‘why am I doing this?’” Shirley Chilcott said.
While repairs are ongoing, the Chilcotts still operate Golden Dreams Jewelers at a location next door. Since they are “partially retired,” they only open their doors on Saturdays.
Once repairs are complete, the Chilcotts’ plan remains the same. They will search for a tenant for the location and finally retire.
However, the couple doubts they will ever entirely leave the industry, or their customers, behind. They say they’re thankful for the support they’ve received from customers over the last year and will likely be around in some capacity in the future.
“We’ve been around for 47 years, so we’ve seen the kids of our customers and the grandkids of our customers,” Shirley Chilcott said. “They just keep coming in and the phone keeps ringing.”
