|
Last year, in
need of a jewelry shop to replace my watch battery, I stumbled
upon DiLustro Jewelers at 280 Main St. in East Haven; a
modest, almost inconspicuous shop, which is a real gem.
John DiLustro is a master craftsman at working with gold,
setting stones, making new jewelry castings and repair work.
His repair work is so outstanding that he often works for
seven or eight other jewelers, as well.
John has enlarged several rings for me, replaced an impossible-to-manipulate
clasp on a pearl necklace with an easy-to-do one, and re-strung
a gold and coral necklace which had broken ... all skillfully
done at an extremely reasonable price.
The DiLustro family saga started when John’s mother
was on a boat going to Italy to visit her family. His father
was on the same boat on his way home to Ischia (a beautiful
island off the coast of Italy). He was immediately smitten
and asked her family for permission to court her. A short
time later, they were married and returned to America, living
in New Haven, then Hamden and finally settling at 414 Main
St. in East Haven.
They were blessed with three children, Lisa, Anna and young
John who was born in 1963, which was also the same year
that the family decided to return to Ischia for a few years
so the children could experience life in this peaceful place.
They needed, however, a way to make a living and since Mr.
DiLustro had experience in the making and repairing of jewelry
in America, the family opened their own jewelry store, “Gioleria
DiLustro,” which became very successful.
After six years, they sold the store to Mr. DiLustro’s
brother and wife and in 1970, returned to the United States.
In 1974, they opened their present store where John, from
the time he was a small boy, barely big enough to see over
the counter, learned the old-school, time-honored craftsmanship
of jewelry-making and repair. His mother dealt with salesmen
and customers and John and his father grew the business
with their skill and hard work.
Today, John and his charming wife, Donna, not only continue
the tradition, they will be welcoming the next generation,
represented by John Jr. into the business this June.
Their story typifies the histories of immigrants from Italy
who came and settled in this area, bringing Old World skills
and values with them. Remember to visit and shop all your
local merchants this Christmas and when you are in need
of jewelry or jewelry repair, pay a visit to DiLustro’s.
Last-Minute Bulletin: Presence, a holiday co-op of local
artists and merchants on the Branford Green, will host a
special shopping night Thursday to benefit the Soundview
Family YMCA.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
