fbpx Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to footer
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

History
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1928-1938

694 S. Goodman

NE Corner of Clinton & Goodman

No photo of Store Front
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1938-1969

1791 Dewey Ave

SW Corner of Ridge & Dewey

Between Woolworths two doors
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1969-1972

434 W Ridge Rd

NE corner of Ridge & Dewey

No photo of Store Front
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1972-1978

630 W Ridge Rd Suite 13

West Ridge Plaza

No photo of Store Front
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1978-1994

630 W Ridge Rd Suite 11

Between Skips & Century Liquor
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1994-2015

660 W Ridge Rd

Across the parking lot- adjacent to Drive-Thru Beverage
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

2015-Now

1588 W Ridge Rd

Stone Ridge Plaza near Stone Rd. Entrance
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1928-1976

Joseph F. Jones

Founder
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1976-2009

Len Jones

Son of Joseph
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

1976-2016

Colleen Jones

Wife of Len
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

2004-Now

Brittany Jones

Daughter of Len & Colleen

Our Story

JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

Joseph F. Jones dropped out of high school in 1923 at the age of 14. His father was very upset and found him a jewelry and watch apprenticeship at JR White Company downtown. Upon completion Joseph opened his own repair shop on the corner of South Goodman and South Clinton in Swillburg. One day a young woman by the name of Winnie stopped in to have her fathers watch repaired. It was love at first site. The two were married in 1936 and had four children that helped out at the store throughout the years.

In 1938 the store expanded and moved to the bustling Ridge & Dewey corner. The new store was much larger to include a selection of fine and costume jewelry, small appliances, razors and fine silverware. The friendly Hall brother were just kicking off their greeting card business and Winnie wanted to take a chance on them. JF Jones was one of the first stores to sell Hallmark greeting cards in the area and continued to do so until Hallmark Card Stores first opened.

JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

The couples younger son and third child, Len, took to the business. Len started as an apprentice at a young age and worked at the store through high school. He worked briefly at Kodak but came back to take over upon his father’s retirement in 1976.

In 1976, Colleen’s roommate convinced her to join on an errand to JF Jones, bringing in a watch for repair. Little did she know that this casual encounter would change her life forever. Learning that Colleen worked as a hostess at the nearby Little Queen, Len couldn’t resist sending her flowers and sweetly asking for her phone number in note cards, each one reading, “I still need your phone number.” Persistence paid off, and Colleen finally relented, giving in to Len’s charm. Soon, Len swept her off her feet, and she joined him as the store’s bookkeeper. Playfully recalling Len’s bookkeeping system as nothing more than a shoe box, Colleen, who had grown up in a family business, Dupont TV, found herself woven into Len’s life and work. In 1978, the store relocated to a new spot down the plaza between Skips and Century Liquor, marking an exciting new chapter in their journey.

JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

Len & Colleen’s daughter, Brittany, was born and raised in the business spending weekends gift wrapping, making bows and learning from both Mom & Dad. She took to the business and marketing side at a young age- begging to change the displays at the store after school.

The store moved across the parking lot in 1994 into the former Simpson’s Donut spot, adjacent to West Ridge Beverage.

Brittany officially came on in 2004 while still in high school and continued to work thru college while earning her bachelors degree in Marketing at SUNY Brockport. Upon graduation she came on full time and brought the business into the 21st century. The revolutionary new inventory and website system she implemented allows JF Jones to compete with the big box stores.

JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY
JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

Brittany officially took over in 2016 after our most recent move to Stone Ridge Plaza.
Brittany continued her education by earning her Graduate Diamonds Degree and Graduate Gemologist Degree from The Gemological Institute of America. (GIA)
She has also taken appraisal courses through the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA) and earned a designation of Certified Member.

Many members of the Jones family have worked at the store over the years. And many staff have become family. Brittany, third generation, runs the store today with the goal of making her late Grandfather and Father proud.

JF Jones Jewelers Rochester, NY

Timeline

-1928 Established at S. Goodman & Clinton

-1938 Moved to SW corner of Ridge & Dewey

-1969 Moved to NE corner of Ridge & Dewey

-1972 Moved to West Ridge Plaza (next to the barber)

-1976 Len takes over, Colleen joins

-1978 Moved down the plaza (next to Skip’s Meat Market)

-1994 Moved across the plaza (next to drive-thru beverage)

-2004 Brittany joins

-2015 Moved to Stone Ridge Plaza

-2016 Colleen retires and Brittany takes over

Read Our Article

My Bag