Litwins History

Grandpa Boris' bench is where, as a boy of 13, he began designing and crafting jewelry with his father, Akim. Their workshop was my grandfather's bedroom on Richmond Street in the West End. No fax machines, computers or the Internet -- just great design and a strong work ethic.

So many things have changed in the jewelry business since then, but tools just like these are still used in making fine jewelry. Of course, there are lasers and computer-aided, fabulously precise tools in addition today, as well. When the Litwins came to America, Grandma Litwin, who had been a skilled polisher (a very important job in the jewelry factory) in Russia, stopped working and raised the children. The same goes for my grandmother, Frieda Litwin, whose job was to wear the fabulous jewelry my grandfather made for her. My own mother, Charlotte, wasn't involved with the business either. Her business was then "organization work," and business was left to the sons and the son-in-laws.

In the early days, the focus was on manufacturing; only later was the retail end added. After some time, the focus of Litwin's was purely retail.

But, things changed. My dad, Sandy Armstrong, insisted that I come to work at Litwin's with him while I was in high school and college. I stocked merchandise, filed papers, operated the switchboard and ran errands. From today's perspective, I was doing "women's work," but I learned the business from the inside out.

After my brother's death, my mom and I decided that we'd carry on together. And while she insisted that I become the President and she the Vice President, my mom has come to work most every day thereafter -- a true "steady ender." Even my mom's sister, Aunt Phyllis Rubenstein, has come to work, proving that the Litwin genes breed true!

In September 2003, after more than 100 years in downtown Cincinnati, the Litwin women made the decision to move the family business to Hyde Park Square.

While in many respects, our business is different today with Litwin women at the helm, enjoying all the modern conveniences, we are really about the same thing -- quality, style and making people smile.

We're also getting back to our roots. We have a fabulous collection of carved stone rings, and we've created our own cheese coney and Union Terminal charms in response to requests for more Cincy-inspired charms, now that charm bracelets are all the rage. We have other projects in the works as well. We hope you'll come and see!

BJ Foreman,
President