Every month we will be giving you a chance to get to know our local, Downtown business owners – your friends and neighbors – who make Downtown such a special place. This month we’d like to introduce you to Niki Hunn, president of Thomas Hunn Jewelers, 112 N 3rd Street.
My father, Thomas Hunn, started the company in 1985 in a tiny office space in the Dalby Wendland building after moving from St. Louis Missouri to raise me. He loved Grand Junction and the wholesomeness of the valley compared to the big city. He never worked on credit with vendors and he didn’t believe in debt, so we started with very little inventory and a tiny shop. I, Niki Hunn, am a 25 year journeyman Goldsmith and stone setter as well as a graduate gemologist and appraiser. I am the president of Thomas Hunn Jewelers. I began my apprenticeship at the jewelry store on June 24th, 1991. Over the years, with my father’s charisma and dedication, he grew the company to a point that we were able to buy the building at 112 N. 3rd St. in 1993. My father and I, working together diligently, were able to pay off our building within 10 years. We have been happily working in the valley for over 33 years now. My father retired in April of 2014.
We continue repairing jewelry, creating jewelry, settings stones of all kinds, taking trips to Thailand and various places all over the world for jewelry shows and stone buying. My spouse, Bob Jarvis, began working at the store in 2011 and is now a journeyman Goldsmith and is working towards his graduate gemologist degree. My son, Nikcoda Beightel, started his apprenticeship in May 2014 after graduating high school. His decision was to carry on the family business after I retire one day by going to the gemological Institute of America to achieve his graduate gemologist degree. He is learning how to work the bench and become a goldsmith as well. I’m a very proud mom, extremely grateful to live in such a beautiful valley with such a wonderful downtown! We plan to stay for many many years to come.