For nearly nine decades, Allyn’s Jewelers has been a fixture in Ironton.

Ted Allyn opened the first Allyn’s Jewelers in 1930. He got his stock for the store from a jewelry store that was being auctioned.

“My dad came to a quiet auction, there was a jewelry store that was going out of business,” explained owner Tom Allyn. “At the end of the auction, there was a small amount of merchandise left, so he borrowed money from his father, bought the merchandise and reopened the store. Our first store was at 309 Center Street.”

From that humble beginning, Allyn’s Jewelers has weathered a lot, often literally.

“We’ve gone through floods, frequently,” Allyn said.

The business moved to a location at Third Street and Park Avenue in 1954.

“About 23 years ago, we moved to this location at 502 Second Street,” Allyn said.

There were a couple of reasons for the move. One was that the new store was right next to the bridge, had better parking and one of the employees had trouble getting around the two-story building on Center and Park.

“We had a handicapped watchmaker and our repair shop was in the basement,” Allyn said. “He couldn’t get up and down the stairs anymore, so we were looking for something with one floor.”

Allyn said the reason they have stayed in business for so many years is that they treat their customers well and that makes them come back. Often, their customers come in because of family recommendations.

“We have really, really loyal customers who have been with us for years. Normally, a mother or father will tell their son or daughter to come see us. So, we have three or four generations of customers,” Allyn said. “We try to keep the merchandise as something people want to buy and try to keep prices low. And we take good care of our customers.”

Besides sales, the store also does repairs and even can remake jewelry.

“We can reuse their stones and make a new ring or pendants,” Allyn said. “I really enjoy doing that.”

They also do trading and buying of scrap gold.

Allyn hasn’t worked for the store his whole life. After graduating from school, he got a job as a Columbus-area salesman for the Sinclair Oil Corporation.

“I came back to work for my dad in 1958,” Allyn said, because his stepmother had cancer and his father asked him to return to the family business. “I really enjoyed my job with Sinclair and would have stayed if it wasn’t for that.”

Allyn said it has been a good life and the business enabled him to send all three kids to college and they’ve all done well.

He runs the shop now with Dusty Bond, who has been there for three years, and Manda Malone, who has been there for 10 years.

Allyn said the business has remained essentially the same over the years, that it is a matter of customer service.

“If you don’t take good care of your customers now, you won’t be taking care of them in the future,” he said. “We try to get the merchandise that they desire and keep the prices low. And if you have a problem with it, we’ll take care of it. It’s a family thing, a family of the whole Ironton area.”

Although Allyn’s Jewelers’ 90th anniversary isn’t until next year, they will start special sales in October.

With the Christmas season coming on, Allyn’s will be open extra hours, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturdays and until 6 p.m. on Mondays.