SPECIALTIES SHOWROOM

Presents

courses at OCC. At the same
time, he designed jewelry for
friends out of his home.
Having amassed a clientele of
his own over 11 years, Mr. Gross
decided to go into business offi-
cially. Aside from repairing,
restoring and appraising jewel-
ry, he sells work from the store
and designs whatever a cus-
tomer fancies.
"I sometimes think that I'm
the one everyone comes to be-
cause no one else wants to do the
jobs I do," he laughs, proudly.
"Of course, you work with the
hope that someone will love
what you spent hours making,
but that's the reason for the en-
couraging environment."
The showcase, he says, is
more of a "museum kind of
thing," displaying works that
are for sale, but also providing
ideas to clients. Although, he is
quick to add, no design will ever
be used twice.

The GE Profile CleanSensor

"We design
jewelry
based on one's
lifestyle
and tastes."

– Matthew Gross

TM

GE Profile

"If a customer comes in and

says he saw a piece he loves and
wants one just like it, I'll tell
him, 'Lets work with it."'
Mr. Gross designed a piece
that was commissioned by the
Midwest AIDS Prevention Pro-
ject in which he incorporated the
Nazi symbol of gay oppression,
pink triangles, and a piece of the
AIDS Memorial Project quilt.
The piece was auctioned of at
a fund-raiser, the design has
since been copyrighted and a
company headed by Elizabeth
Taylor is trying to market it.
Choosing Berkley for his shop
was an easy decision for Mr.
Gross. "Birmingham was too ex-
pensive, Royal Oak too restau-
ranty. I think Berkley is the
next emerging area," he says.
"There's a coffee shop nearby,
lots of people walking around,
and it's quiet. People are down
to earth."
Mr. Gross and his wife
Elena are raising their son, 10-
month-old Aaron, nearby and
considering membership at Con-
gregation Beth Achim in South-
field. The original Beth Achim,
in Detroit, was home to the voice
of Cantor Mendel Stawis, Mr.
Gross' grandfather.
Mr. Gross says his clientele
has been pretty steady. "I've just
hired an apprentice, which I
didn't plan on doing so soon.
What has been surprising is that
the walk-ins are five months
ahead of whereI expected to be,
businesswise."

for the sophisticated homeowner

' kitchen
who wants to elevate dam.

with the latest

appliances.

r e
C,

& Bath

.0

SPECIALTIES
SHOWROOM
saips

c)2.

2800 West Eleven Mile Road

Berkley, Michigan 48072

Telephone: 810-548-5656

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