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Jewelry store passes from family to family
JM Jewelers in Rotterdam has new owner with generations of experience
By ALAN WECHSLER, Business writer
First published: Tuesday, January 8, 2008

ROTTERDAM -- There's a lot of history behind the counter of JM Jewelers.
New owner Sheryll Graubart-Hoffman is the fourth generation of jewelers in the Schenectady area. The former owner, Kevin Mercoglan, was the second generation. That makes about 157 years in the gem business between their families.
     
Late last year, Graubart-Hoffman, former manager of JM on Mariaville Road, bought the company from long-time owner Mercoglan.
Graubart-Hoffman, 46, is the daughter of Hershel Graubart. He was the third generation to operate Maurice B. Graubart & Sons Inc. on Jay Street in Schenectady, which closed five years ago.
Mercoglan is the son of John Mercoglan, who opened JM in 1960.
Graubart-Hoffman hopes that history will help continue to draw customers to what is now her shop. Neither she nor Mercoglan would discuss the purchase price.
Graubart-Hoffman worked at her family's jewelry store for 20 years before it closed, and has been working as manager at JM for five years. Her father, now 83, often comes into the store to help out.
"The majority of the (former) Graubart customers come to me now. And Kevin's customers know who I am," said Graubart-Hoffman. "It's the best of both worlds."
When Hershel Graubart closed his store, his brother and business partner, Walter Graubart, was dying of cancer, and the store was losing customers afraid to drive into downtown Schenectady, his daughter said.
Graubart-Hoffman said her father refused to sell her the store because of its problems. She considered buying another store, but before she could arrange financing, Mercoglan offered her a job.
"He pretty much gave me full rein of the store," she said. "I was doing everything I wanted to do except I didn't own it."
Mercoglan, 47, had worked at JM since 1982, while also working part time as a Schalmont School District bus driver. His father retired in 1987, passing on the store to his son. At the same time, Mercoglan's career at Schalmont advanced. Now he's director of operations at the district, as well as a Rotterdam town justice.
"It was time to get out," he said. "I just didn't have enough time to do everything."