The last time I interviewed Jennifer Gandia, co-owner with her sister Christina Gandia Gambale of Greenwich St. Jewelers, it was on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the business and store, which was originally owned by their parents, who opened in 1976 on Greenwich Street in the Wall Street area. The dynamic duo, who had taken over their family’s shop, had just rebranded and refurbished their retail venue on Trinity Place.
Since then, they have grown the business and, in 2022, opened a new Tribeca location in a sprawling space in Manhattan’s second oldest cast iron building. It is replete with customized displays, original artwork on the walls, a new roster of designers, bridal brands, and custom designs created in the shop by master jewelers.
I have known the family for over 20 years and have watched the sisters survive, move and rebuild after the damages of the bombings of 9/11 and the ravages of hurricane Sandy. I’ve admired their strength and spirit while following their evolution, which revealed their impressive business and branding savvy, exquisite taste in jewelry and ongoing passion that led them to open one of the most beautifully appointed, welcoming jewelry shop that completely aligns with their philosophy and vision of preserving tradition and paying homage to downtown NYC. “Our mantra throughout the project was ‘luxury without pretension,’” says Jennifer Gandia, who adds, “we created the space to feel like a sumptuous yet inviting home. Mirroring the layout of a classic Manhattan railroad apartment, the space is divided into ‘rooms’ that our guests move through as they view the work of 40+ independent designers.”
During the early interview I did with Gandia in 2016 during that first rebrand, she explained what she loved about jewelry. “It is so much more than just pretty, sparkling pieces that accessorize an outfit. Each jewel is a memory transmitter—it brings you back to special intimate moments and bonds you to the precious people and occasions in your life.”
While working on the design for the new store, Jennifer and Christina both concentrated on the exclusive elements that would capture and best represent this feeling as well as retaining parts of the history of the space, like they retain their memories and the roots of growing up working with customers and in their parent’s stock room, watching their late father –a master jeweler in his own right at the bench and designing his own displays and their mother delving into every part of the business.
The building the shop now resides in is known as the Obsidian House, which was built in 1857.
“The original facade has been carefully restored, and the original brick arch was the original inspiration for using arches in the space. It was important for us to keep that original wall in the design,” says Gandia
When entering the shop, one can’t help but notice the brass vitrines suspended along the walls at eye level, giving a nod to the bejeweled pendants found inside.
One of my favorite spaces is the VIP room, which evokes the feeling of being on an outdoor terrace with lighting design that mimics sunshine. “Everything down to the restroom’s ginkgo leaf tiles offers a tropical nod to our ancestry.” Says Gandia.
She continues, “Custom mica-flecked plaster covers the walls, with commissioned art installations throughout the space. The iconic downtown scene influenced the interior art, including a wall installation by muralist Mason Nye with a custom subway grate stencil pressed into the plaster. An original commissioned painting by East Village artist Rosalie Knox was rendered with nail polish and glows in the dark under black light. The chandelier in the front of the store looks like the perfect jumble of hanging chains.”
Many other intricate details allow customers a sense of discovering the jewelry of their dreams. Moving from one room to the next continues the expedition of treasure hunting inside this lush yet never intimidating space which houses designs from such talents as Eva Fehren, Alice Cicolini, Erica Molinari, Marla Aaron, Megan Thorne, Rebecca Overmann, , Sarah Freedenfeld for Amali Jewelry, Nada Ghazal, Lorraine West, Todd Pownell and many more.
If you are a jewelry enthusiast and haven’t been to the shop yet or just visiting New York City, it’s time to stop in and feel the magic.