Glaser’s to end 112 years in Colfax

One of the oldest businesses in Colfax is closing its doors.

Glaser’s Jewelry on Main Street will close for good Saturday, Feb. 15. Owner Ed Glaser, third generation of Glasers to operate the store, said Tuesday morning that the store has been in Colfax for approximately 112 years with a clock on the edge of the sidewalk as the landmark.

The closing sale began Nov. 6.

Glaser’s grandfather, Otto C. Glaser, advertised his business as the “leading jewelry and optician, at the sign of the street clock.” He believes the store might have been located where the old Fonk’s store was, and eventually moved to its current location.

About 1910, Otto Glaser took in a partner and, at one time, three families were involved with the store.

Ivar Wilson, Melvin (Shorty) Kincaid and Roy Glaser, Otto’s son, worked together in the store in the 1960s. They specialized in watch and clock repair and sold a lot of sterling silver flatware and dishware.

Wilson retired, leaving Kincaid and Glaser. Then Kincaid started his own jewelry store in Moscow in the mid-1960s.

After serving in the Korean War, Roy Glaser, Ed’s father, returned to take over the store.

After Ed Glaser graduated from Colfax High School in 1969, he went to Washington State University for two years. He left the college to begin working with his dad, learning watch and jewelry repair.

Roy and Elizabeth “Bibbet” Glaser had the store until Roy’s sudden death in 1972 at age 49. Ed had worked in the store by himself before Roy’s death, but he also knew he needed to learn more than his dad had taught him.

For two years Ed attended a watch repair school in Seattle. Repairing watches is very intricate, he said. Basically, he took watches apart, separated the parts, cleaned and oiled them and put them back together.

That is one of many changes Glaser has seen over the years.

“In the ‘80s and ‘90s, the wind-up watches kept me busy, but nowadays, it’s quartz and battery-operated watches,” he said. “People don’t get them fixed. They throw them away and buy a new one. We’re a throw away society.”

Glaser said he also learned ring sizing and jewelry repair, but he didn’t get into jewelry design, something he said he wished he had done.

He said he decided now was a good time to quit because the business is changing.

“It’s not like it used to be,” Glaser said. “People don’t buy china and glassware any more. I think they use paper and red Solo cups. They couldn’t care less about those kinds of things.”

Glaser also said that over the last 10 years, use of the internet has increased and the price of gold has increased so much that it has hurt jewelry sales.

“When you own a small business, you have to be married to it,” he said.

Glaser belonged to the Elks Lodge, and in the 1980s, he went through the chairs of the Elks. He reminisced about serving 200 people steaks on Saturday nights.

Glaser said he would like to keep his hands in the watch and jewelry repair business, perhaps doing something part-time.

“It would be good for the town itself and the community,” he said.

Glaser and his wife, Sue, have two daughters, a son and four grandchildren.

“I really enjoyed what I did,” Glaser said.

The store is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“I want to thank the community for the support these past 112 years,” Glaser said.

He said after the sale he will donate some merchandise to charity.