Jon Donner and Kathleen Belt
Blackstone Fine Jewelers Helping the South Hills sparkle
for over 11 years, Blackstone Fine Jewelers was one of the Galleria’s original tenants. Three years ago, after having established themselves as a “destination store” in the Galleria, Blackstone decided it was time to relocate its expanding business. Realizing the importance of a good location, Blackstone decided to check out
a promising old building on Route 19, outside South Hills Village. Although the new location offered virtually no “foot traffic,” the property boasted much greater visibility. “We had such confidence in our existing clients, the lack of foot traffic wasn’t a concern,” says Jon Donner, Blackstone General Manager and Upper St. Clair resident.
Cover photograph, inside photographs and information provided by Blackstone Fine Jewelers. 28
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Winter 2001
However, the building needed a lot of work if the vision of Blackstone’s new home was to be realized. To help him find the right architect, Donner called his old friend, Charles Franklin of Charles Franklin Consulting. After interviewing many prospective firms, the perfect architect for the job turned out to be right here in Upper St. Clair. Blackstone chose Upper St. Clair resident and CMU graduate, Lucian Caste. Caste’s concept for the new store’s exterior—Venetian plaster in subtle tones of green and beige—was designed to compliment its surroundings, not stand out from them. Inside, the new store is elegant, but casual, turning a simple visit to a retail store into a relaxing stroll through a world of exquisite porcelain, crystal and jewelry. But what really makes a visit to Blackstone special is the staff. “Our staff is second to none,” says Donner. “We have a total commitment to customer service.” The combination of the people and the surroundings make the comment “this store just makes me feel good” a commonly heard phrase. And the fact that you can watch a ball game while your wife or girlfriend shops doesn’t hurt either. Blackstone is well known as the largest independent dealer for Lladró porcelain in Pennsylvania. Lladró is handcrafted porcelain made in Valencia, Spain. In 1995, and again in 1998, Blackstone was chosen for the prestigious honor of holding signing events with Lladró family members. Juan Lladró, the eldest founding brother, and his daughter Rosa made appearances in 1995 and 1998 respectively. And in 1999, Blackstone received the Millennium Dealer Achievement Award in Valencia, Spain. When Lladró found out about Blackstone’s new store concept, they were eager to get involved. Working with Lucian Caste, Lladró designed and built a gallery to showcase their magnificent figurines within the store. But Blackstone offers more than porcelain and Waterford crystal. Its jewelry selection is impeccable. “Every piece, and I mean every piece, is hand selected by me or my staff for design, quality and value,” says Donner. “All the jewelry that leaves this store carries with it our reputation, which is also our best form of advertising.” Donner says that while they sell some very expensive jewelry, they also have an impressive selection of unique jewelry that is affordable. “Sometimes you just need a