Justin Klomp was in the middle of his pep talk to the employees Wednesday at Trice Jewelers’ new expansive home at the Streets at SouthGlenn.
Several times between motivational phrases, he noticed workers’ eyes peering over his shoulders at the main doors. He stopped to turn around.
“There was a line of people waiting for us to open,” said Klomp, whose family celebrates the business’ 50th year with a grand opening Saturday but tested the waters Tuesday and Wednesday. The store will be open Friday.
The free-standing location on the east side of the shopping center on South University Boulevard is a grand- scale showroom that boasts nearly 14,000 square feet of space, housing gems from glittering diamonds to luminescent pearls.
On Wednesday morning, the store’s second day, sales staff busily polished new glass cases, buffed counters and vacuumed any specks from a spotless carpet, making sure that first impressions are good ones.
“We worked hard to be certain it is an inviting atmosphere and not ostentatious,” said owner Ralph Klomp, Justin’s dad. “Whether it’s someone with a half-million dollars to spend or a few hundred, we want them to feel comfortable here.”
Despite a sputtering economy, Klomp chose to expand, capitalizing on opportune pricing to come away with a $2.5 million structure.
The central feature is a faceted natural-light dome at the middle of the showroom, above the swirling bridal showcase of diamonds.
“It’s so you see the diamonds inside as if it were outside,” Justin Klomp said. “How it should be.”
A dozen 42-inch high-definition televisions dot the showroom, offering glimpses of highlighted pieces, while gemologists work in a glassed-in area so customers can watch.
“We spent a long time on the details,” Justin Klomp said. “We wanted it to be right.”
David Migoya: 303-954-1506 or dmigoya@denverpost.com
