Creaser Jewelers finds new home

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

A FAMILY BUSINESS — The Creaser family, from left, Annie, Julie and Dennis, poses in front of a display case of jewelry at their current location on Main Street in South Paris. The family plans to move their business to a new location across the street in October.

PARIS — After more than 12 years in a "glorified, renovated old farmhouse,"  Dennis Creaser and his wife Julie are ready to move their business – but not too far.

"When we opened up Creaser Jewelers it was fine," Dennis says of the current location at 138 Main Street in South Paris.

"The rent was really low and the place was what we needed ... but there comes a time when you outgrow things."

Creaser specializes in crafting fine jewelry with a particular eye for Maine gemstones.

The couple are planning to open a new store directly across the street from the old location where a car wash used to be. The brand new building is already well on its way to completion.

The couple hopes the new location will encourage walk-in traffic. Dennis says most of his business comes from word of mouth – more visibility might help bring in customers who don't know the store exists.

"If you're a tourist, you'd just drive by and not know that we're here," says Julie.

There are other reasons for the move – the current location is inefficient to heat and too small to accommodate the Creaser familiy's vision.

"We got to design this [building] from the ground up and incorporate all the things that we know we now need that we didn't know when we moved in," Dennis says.

He also hopes that with a new store, the couple can help invigorate other businesses in the area.

Dennis says everything fell into place at just the right time – he's ready, but still a little stressed about the big move.

"It's scary and exciting, at the same time," says Julie.

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

NEW BUILDING — The new location of Creaser Jewelers, on Main Street in South Paris. Dennis Creaser says the business has outgrown its current location and that he looks forward to expanding in the new building.