After 137 years of serving the Omaha community, Bergman Jewelry is closing its doors in April. The iconic store, a trusted fixture in the area since 1888, is currently holding a going-out-of-business sale as it prepares to end its long history. While Bergman Jewelry will shut down, the family legacy will continue through a separate business run by the next generation.
Larry Gilinsky, the fourth-generation owner of Bergman Jewelers, began working at the store in the 1940s. The family’s involvement in Omaha dates back to his great-grandfather, who represented a company that sold watch parts and was sent to Omaha from New York. Over the years, the store earned the trust of countless customers, becoming a beloved part of the community.
The business has been a part of multiple generations of families, with many customers passing down the tradition of shopping at Bergman’s to their children and grandchildren. This strong, long-lasting connection with the community is one of the store’s defining features.
Bergman Jewelry thrived by adapting to the changing needs of its customers.
“You go in with one idea, but it probably won’t last. So, you have to shift gears and start doing something different,” said Gilinsky.
The store began by selling watch parts, then expanded into costume jewelry and even appliances, always responding to what customers wanted. The family’s adaptability led to the creation of Bergman Incentives, a new business that would later be run by Gilinsky’s sons. The demand for customized clothing sparked the growth of this business, which now offers a wide range of personalized products.
With Bergman Incentives rapidly growing, the family is preparing to move out of the building they’ve shared with Bergman Jewelry for many years.
“They’re leaving the building, and we don’t want to move. So, Patty and I are retiring,” Gilinsky explained.
While retirement was not something Gilinsky initially wanted, he is grateful for the decades spent in the jewelry business.
“I wasn’t ready to retire. We were having fun. The jewelry business is terrific,” he said.
Though Bergman Jewelry is closing, the family name will live on through Bergman Incentives. After 65 years of dedicated work, Larry Gilinsky is looking forward to retirement, cherishing the relationships he and his family have built over the years.
“It’s been an honor to serve the people of Omaha,” he said.
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