A New Day for Fortunoffs

Fortunoff – the one-time retail icon that closed in 2009 – announced that is opening Fortunoff Fine Jewelry.

Located at 1504 Old Country Road in the Source Mall in Westbury, the grand opening is Sept. 18

The store features women’s, children’s, and men’s jewelry, and will ultimately provide more than 15 showcases of jewelry collections, including those exclusive to Fortunoff and designed for the retailer. Prices will range from $50 to $50,000.

“My goal for the new store is to exceed my customers’ expectations for selection, quality, design and service,” said Esther Fortunoff, president of Fortunoff Fine Jewelry, in a statement.

“I want to continue to earn our customer’s confidence, just as my family has for generations,” she added.

Esther Fortunoff is the granddaughter of Max and Clara Fortunoff, who founded the chain of department stores in East New York in 1922 as a housewares store. By 1964, the company opened the Long Island store in Westbury. In its heyday, the chain had locations in Manhattan, as well in New Jersey and Westchester.

Esther Fortunoff begun working at Fortunoff as a teen, and over the course of 30 years, became executive vice president of the company’s fine jewelry division.

Now, Fortunoff Fine Jewelry will showcase pieces from new local designers as well as from overseas, along with as vintage jewelry for men and women.

Fortunoff shut its doors in 2009 after a bankruptcy, but by then the family had already sold its interest in the company.

The new brick-and-mortar jewelry store is part of a resurgence of the Fortunoff brand, under the leadership of the Fortunoff family, who had already purchased the company’s brand and intellectual property. The company began selling jewelry online in 2010. And members of the Fortunoff family have also launched Backyard Stores, which now number 24 in total selling outdoor furniture and accessories. There are stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware and Florida, as well as an online shop.

Both the Backyard Stores and Fortunoff Fine Jewelry and are listed as corporate brands on www.fortunoff.com.