Jerry's Rock and Gem

Jerry's Rock and Gem was established in 1954 as Jerry's Agate Shop by a Boeing machinist named Jerry Appleton. He wanted to supply his own rock habit and to fill the needs of other rock hounds. Jerry moved the store to its current location in 1962, as the business had out grown the restrictions of his own home. Then in 1982, after years of enjoyment, Jerry decided to retire and sold the business to a friend of mine, Tom, a journeyman jeweler and rockhound. With Tom's help the business evolved from a Rock shop to a Rock shop, Jewelry design, manufacture and repair store. Then in 1990, Tom asked if I would like to buy the store from him. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK ME TWICE. Being a wholesale gem dealer and Hardcore Rock and Fossils Hound, I saw a fantastic opportunity to combine my G.I.A. training and love of gemstones, with my enjoyment of rocks and fossils.
Now Jerry's would be a Rock, Lapidary, Jewelry and Gem store. The only thing left was Fossils and beads. I knew just the right person for the job, Joan, who has a Phd. in Paleontology and the trademark on Mt. St. Helens Emerald. Joan owned a Rock shop in the neighboring city of Tacoma. As luck would have it she was considering a change and six months later she joined us at Jerry's. WOW!!! Now we had everything we needed, but the name didn't quite fit anymore, so we decided that the name JERRY'S ROCK AND GEM was it.