Jewelry store owners, Alison and Charlie Sophy, have been meeting the fine jewelry needs of the Schuylkill County Community with a family owned and operated business since 2003.  In 2011, the Sophy’s decided to move their retail store from a local mall to Coal Creek Plaza located in St. Clair, a new, highly visible and accessible setting for several locally owned retail stores and eateries. The design-build project with Heim Construction Company & Deb Stone Interiors sought to benefit from its corner location with plentiful windows to display sparkling merchandise to shoppers and passersby.

The project was one with an aggressive schedule, beginning in June of 2011 and opening by Thanksgiving. Alison & Charlie Sophy had very diverse thoughts on the design aesthetic; Charlie, with an appreciation of antiquities, and Alison, with a longing for modern design. The design team established a concept that met both owners’ sensibilities in the use of a variety of materials articulated with espresso stained traditional wood panels at the point of sale area to coordinate with the modern wenge wood jewelry display cabinets.  

A gentle serpentine transition from a limestone-like porcelain floor tile at the entry to the elegant swirl-patterned carpet draws customers into an elegant retail space. Glass beaded wall covering is the backdrop for the exquisite gemstone images printed on metal panels and floating inside painted wood frames.   At the diamond counter, a slate veneer fools the eye for its perceived mass while a sleek electric fireplace framed with pearl mosaic tiles and dark wood creates a warm environment for this area, where promises are made over the selection of an engagement ring.

The VIP room is further appointed with old and new including an expandable server with a punched metal panel front, glass table with overlapping chrome rings base, and a plush settee with pearlized pillows. Displayed on the wall over the settee, rests Charlie’s antique photo of “Old Pottsville,” which is a favorite among Sophy Jewelers’ customers.