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Milestones: Fasano & Son Jewelers
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Business New Haven
11/24/2003
By: Richard Rangoon
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Fasano & Son Jewelers
892 Grand Ave.
New Haven, CT 06511
Tel: 203-562-3917
Ownership: David E. Fasano
Milestone: 100 years
Timeline: Fasano & Son Jewelers started out as a phonograph retailer, recalls Edward Fasano, son of the company's founder. "My father had a franchise dealing in RCA and Columbia records, and when the records went out, he went into the jewelry business.
The business transitioned through concentrating on both jewelry and giftware, but Fasano's father phased out the giftware in the 1930s.
Edward Fasano took over the business from his father in 1945 and has since passed it on to his son, David. Today father, son and daughter-in-law run the store, which now is stocked with jewelry and religious items.
In 1960, Fasano & Son's was the first retail store to be redeveloped on Grand Ave. after citywide renovations by then-Mayor Richard C. Lee, Fasano recalls.
Since then, however, the jewelry business has changed dramatically. "Years ago, if people wanted jewelry, they came to a jeweler, but they don't do that anymore," Fasano explains. "Many stores sell jewelry nowadays, but the product is not necessarily high quality."
In addition to the diamonds, bracelets and watches jewelry stores sell, Fasano & Son caters to a Spanish and African-American clientele. "We sell a lot of 14-karat gold chains and religious jewelry - we're big on that," Fasano says.
"The basic thing is respect for the customer, and honest value," Fasano explains.
A decade ago Fasano & Son expanded its storefront to enhance its visibility to passersby, and today remains a Grand Avenue fixture.
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