New Neighborhood Jeweler Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

ArgentAurum, which is Latin for “silver and gold,” is a new jewelry store at 1826 Merrick Road owned by Miki Ghalandar and his wife, Haleh.

However, while they recently just held their grand opening ribbon cutting, calling their shop new might be slightly misleading.

“We’ve been open for about a year now,” he said. “The sign has come out recently, we did some ads and now we’re trying to spread the word around.”

And the word that Ghalandar is trying to spread around is that ArgentAurum is capable of servicing all of your jewelry needs, no matter how big or small.

“We are a one-stop jewelry shop,” he said. “We have everything you need. I have a partner. We’re both wholesalers and have everything from silver, gold, diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones, as well as some accessories that we’re introducing as well.”

One thing that Ghalandar wants people to know, however, is that ArgentAurum is anything but your typical jewler.

“We have the usual things, such as a large selection of engagement rings and diamonds,” he said. “But at the same time, we have pieces that nobody else has, that we only produce. We’re a manufacturer, so we make certain pieces that you’re not going to find anywhere else. Also, if you have a design in mind, bring us a picture, and we can make it. Plus, our prices are affordable.”

Another point that sets ArgentAurum apart from run-of-the-mill jewelers, according to Ghalandar, is a simple matter of scheduling and convenience.

“We’re closed on Saturdays and open on Sundays,” he said. “We’re Jewish, so we had to do the swap. People are usually more often free on a Sunday, so hopefully they can go out on Saturday, have fun, do their grocery shopping or whatever, and on Sunday they can come and spend some pleasant time here.”

When it came to picking a location for his new business, Ghalandar just went with his gut instinct when it came to a certain store on Merrick Road.

“When I saw the store, I just had a feeling,” he said. “The chemistry was just there.”

ArgentAurum’s ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the Merrick Chamber of Commerce and several local politicians, including Hempstead Town Clerk Mark Bonilla, who said that new business owners such as Ghalandar are helping turn back the economic low tide plaguing Long Island.

“The small the businesses are the key to the economic development and revitalization,” he said. “People typically don’t realize that small businesses are the ones that hire locally, either teenagers or full-time employees. I think the reality is that they’re the engine that runs the entire town and the county. I think it’s a great thing and they continue to be successful.”