Following In Their Father's Footsteps Keeps New Providence Jewlery Store Going Strong

New Providence, NJ - The family-run Braunschweiger Jewelers has a history as old as time.

Now based in Morristown and New Providence, the jewelry store’s family legacy can be linked back to 1873 when Balthus Braunschweiger began working in a clock factory in Germany. His son Eugen also began following in his footsteps.

The family immigrated to the United States and eventually Eugen and his brother Robert open their first store with just $200 in 1931.

Eugen’s sons, who are identical twins, Bill and Herb also followed suit by taking over the business.

“My father, Herb and his brother are the third generation to take over the family business,” Gretchen Braunschweiger told Patch.

The business eventually moved to Morristown in 1958 and then opened a second location in New Providence.

As history would repeat itself, Bill and Herb’s children also followed in their father’s footsteps.

The children, Linda, Gretchen, Kristy and Bill, now run the Braunschweiger business.

Kristy’s children are already beginning to help out at the store making them the fifth generation to continue on in the Braunschweiger’s family history.

“Its interesting, for us as we never have known any different,” Gretchen said. “Anytime I read industry magazines, I see that we are a very small minority in the business field to have lasted this long. Most businesses don’t have anyone to take over.”

Very close-knit, it was only natural for the family to continue to stick together in and out of work.

“I grew up hearing clocks all over my basement and chiming,” Gretchen recalled. “And we were always around one another celebrating birthdays and events. No one was pressed into continuing the business, we all wanted to.”

For more information on Braunschweiger Jewelers visit http://www.braunschweiger.com/ or call 973-538-2189 for the Morristown location or 908-665-1487 for the New Providence store.

(Photos provided: The Braunschweiger family then and now)

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