STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- DONGAN HILLS -- It was a well-planned proposal: Cory Schifter dropped to one knee this summer, held out a ring he had personally designed, pulled out a pair of tickets to Florida and, surprise again, arranged to have their families greet them with a party in the Sunshine State.
One of the new owners of Casale Jewelers in Dongan Hills, Schifter will make customized and customer-designed jewelry a specialty of the shop at 1639 Richmond Rd."When it's custom made, you've put your heart and your effort into it and you appreciate it more," said Schifter, who left his job in finance to help his family expand their trade. "I still see my fiancee looking at her finger under different lights."
The Schifter family has operated Independent Jewelers in Grasmere for 23 years. Bernard and Helene Schifter of Rossville started the retail shop, and their sons, Danny, Michael and Cory, became increasingly involved in the business. Danny added custom jewelry to the offerings at Independent, including engagement and wedding rings, picture pendants, and decorative police and fire badges.
But when the mom-and-pop shop bought Casale in August from Florida-bound owner Dominick Casale, the family brought in their eldest son, Cory, to bring energy to the enterprise. Since Bernard was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis three years ago, Cory, a 34-year-old resident of Dongan Hills, and his brothers have stepped in to help.
Under its new owners, Casale Jewelers will celebrate its "grand re-opening" from Monday through Oct. 31 -- offering free watch batteries, on-premise jewelry cleaning and special discounts on watches and crystal, in conjunction with fund-raising efforts for breast cancer research and treatment.
Behind the counter are Casale's longtime staff members, Vicky Romeo of Dongan Hills and Margie Sambataro of New Dorp.
They sell affordable and high-end jewelry, designer watches, Swarovski crystal, Gemological Institute of American (GIA)-certified diamonds, and offer on-site repairs, appraisals, laser photograph engravings, custom-made medical bracelets, bridal accessories and items in platinum and 14- and 18-karat gold.
"My hope for this store is to make customers happy and give back to the community, like Dominick did," said Cory Schifter, who is involved with the South Shore Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, the Dongan Hills Merchants Society, the 9/11 Charity Fund and the YMCA. "I'm really excited to be working on Staten Island and giving back to the community that's given me so much."
Casale Jewelers made custom pendants for the South Shore Little League's players, coaches and team mom, to be presented at the November All Star Dinner.
Specialized computer software at the store will also allow customers to design their own jewelry; Cory and Danny both earned degrees in computer technology at St. John's University, and are bringing that experience to bear.
Casale Jewelers opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday-- and operates until 8 p.m. Thursdays, 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, and 6 on other nights.
Tevah Platt covers the North and East shores for the Advance. She may be reached at platt@siadvance.com.