Family Business In Middletown That Dates Back To 1928 Closing After Retirement Sale

MIDDLETOWN, CT — It's about to be the end of an era in the Middletown business scene.

The announcement was recently made that Malloves Jewelers will be closing its doors at 404 Main St. in the Grant Building with the retirement of owner Marc Levin. The store was known not only for its quality, but willingness to work with young couples.

Mallove's has been run by the family since 1928. Back then, Malloves had five locations — in Middletown, Danbury, Norwich and New London in Connecticut and in Massachusetts in Fitchburg.

After a decade, the Malloves family sold the shops and Max Levin bought the Middletown store and incorporated it with a gift store. On July 11, 1940, Max was killed in a car crash and, though just 13, his son, Buzzy, began to help out, even though he had a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers.‍‍ Buzzy Levin officially bought the business from family members in 1957.

One store policy was that young couples could establish credit by purchasing wedding rings for $1 down and $1 a week.

The store wound up on Main Street in 1974 after a fire and a short stint at a temporary location.

In 1983, Buzzy’s son Marc, joined the Malloves staff after attending the University of Tampa. In 1992, Marc assumed his leadership position.

Phone calls to the store Tuesday were met with a kind-hearted message that volume was so high between curiosity and well-wishers that they cannot be answered. The staff also cited preparations for the "largest sale in history."

That sale, according to a flyer distributed in the business community, is set to begin on Nov. 2 with special invite-only days for "loyal shoppers" slated to start on Tuesday.

Customers will get up to 70 percent off the entire inventory, according to the flyer.

The Malloves stores in Waterford and Mystic are not affected by the closing, since they are under separate ownership.