Niwot Jewelry 25th + Pinocchios + Thistle and Ivy = Celebrations

When you hit a major business anniversary there's reason to celebrate. When owners open two businesses in the middle of a pandemic, there's a different reason to celebrate. Adding it all together results in the triple celebrations taking place next weekend for Niwot Jewelry & Gifts, Pinocchio's restaurant and Ivy and Thistle hair salon.

Over the past few months, Jan Kahl and Jason Scarbrough, co-owners of Niwot Jewelry & Gifts, took the lead organizing the event in honor of their store's 25th year in business, and to show the connections they have with the other businesses that share their 2nd Avenue plaza location. The family-friendly festivities start on Saturday, June 12, from noon to 5 p.m. and feature music, some drinks, and treats including popcorn and cotton candy.

A highlight of the event includes a 3 p.m. gift drawing. Prizes include a half-carat diamond pendant provided by Niwot Jewelry & Gifts and a celebration basket that includes gift cards and products from all three shops.

To enter, go to the jewelry store on any day leading up to the event to submit an entry. Winners have to be present during the drawing to claim their prize.

Niwot Jewelry & Gifts, one of Niwot's longest-term retail businesses, is celebrating a quarter century doing business here. The third generation jewelers offer personal services such as repairing heirloom jewelry and timepieces, as well as creating custom design.

Kahl simply said, "It's pretty amazing to reach 25 years."

Scarbrough, who is Kahl's son and business partner, added, "We certainly didn't realize we'd last through the ups and downs of life as a small business. We were tested."

He cited both the economic downturn of 2008 and the recent pandemic as examples. "Those are big challenges for a business to pull through. We were shut down for two months, but we were still working even though we couldn't see customers. We were able to keep going due, in a large part, to the community here."

The pandemic has proven to be a challenge to the other businesses as well. Opening at a time when in-person customer interactions are limited brings a host of issues to work through.

In a previous Courier article, Kelsey Deboard, Pinocchio's new co-owner, said they had to cut back hours and relied on help from family.

Now that the pandemic appears to be on the downturn and community activity is starting to open up, all three businesses continue to have their doors open and are thriving.

Deboard said they have more staff generally, but they're still looking for some team members, such as a cook. "But with as busy as it's getting and with things turning around with Covid, I think it will all work out.We're excited to celebrate our new lives, our big change and being a part of the community here in Niwot."

Progress like that provides all the more reason to celebrate next weekend. Hopefully, community members can join them and show their support for this latest example of resilient small and family-owned businesses that are part of Niwot's healthy downtown community.