Vincent J. Jewelers reaches milestone

Like many relationships, it took Jim Frazier a couple years of courtship before he was ready to take the plunge and commit his business to the lovely cityscape of Dowagiac.

“It took me over a little over two years of coming down here on my days off, sitting in parking places, watching the traffic flow, falling in love with the building,” Frazier said.

Eighteen years later, that commitment is still paying off, as Vincent J. Jewelers remains one of the cornerstone businesses of downtown Dowagiac.

Frazier and his team celebrated their 25th anniversary of the business Tuesday evening in style, alongside many of his fellow business owners and professionals. The Front street jewelry store
hosted the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce’s latest Business After Hours Event, with over 25 people enjoying a night of food, drinks and celebration inside its cozy confines.

The Dowagiac storefront is one of two locations that Frazier currently operates, with the other in downtown Coloma.

Frazier first broke into the industry on a whim, while returning a ring he had purchased from a jewelry chain that his best friend was working for. Before leaving, his friend asked if he would fill out a manager application for the store.

“I go ‘really,’” Frazier recalled. “I’m going to Florida with three friends, but I’ll fill it out just to get you out of my hair.”

A few months later, he found himself working for Fox Jewelers, commuting from his home in Coloma to the store’s location in Mishawaka. He worked for the company for six years in management, before growing dissatisfied with the job.

“It was so corporate, and I got tired of that,” Frazier said. “I was working long hours, 9 in the morning until 9 at night. It was no life at all.”

Despite the experience, he continued to work in the industry before starting his own business 25 years ago.

Since coming to Dowagiac, Frazier has become a valued member of the city’s business community, and is currently serving on the chamber of commerce board of directors. Only a few months ago, he purchased the building he had been renting for the past 18 years, further solidifying Vincent J. Jewelers place in the community.

“We like to do business here the way you like to do business here,” Frazier said. “My local customers are more important than anybody during the summer. Everybody’s dollar is important, but if we can’t sell to you guys, what good is it? We want to be part of the town, and hopefully we will continue to be that.”