Conway’s Crown Jewel: Family-owned Grady’s Jewelers has been a town gem for nearly 55 years

By Ashley Daniels

Grady’s Jewelers has been a much-adored mainstay off Main Street in downtown Conway since 1970, when patriarch Grady Richardson first opened the doors to his family-run store.

Over the next five decades, Grady, with the help of his wife Adelle and daughter Dawn, would build on his jewelry inventory, services, and the trust from clients in the community to create a thriving business.

“I’ve been behind the counters of this store since before I could even see over them – I grew up here!” says Dawn Richardson. “I remember my mom teaching me to count change back to customers at an early age.”

Dawn began working full-time at the family’s jewelry store in 1998, at the same time she was completing her BS in Art Studio at Coastal Carolina University (CCU). She officially took the reins as owner and manager of the jewelry repair department in the early 2000s.

“I’ve always loved to draw,” says Dawn. “I sketched the state palmetto tree, the riverwalk and bridge combination, an oak tree, and the town clock that I had pendants made from, and we exclusively sell in the store.”

Her artistic talents also extend to her alma mater. Dawn commissioned the first piece of licensed CCU jewelry to be featured in the LogoArts catalog that produces licensed jewelry for colleges, the NFL, and more. In 2007, because of her achievements, she was honored to be CCU’s Alumni of the Year for the Humanities and Fine Arts College.

Dawn shares that the focus of the majority of the work provided at Grady’s Jewelers over the last nearly 55 years has been selling quality jewelry, watches, and gifts (recognized brands like LaFonn, Citizen Watch, Crown Ring, Noam Carver, and more) – and doing a ton of jewelry repairs in-house. The store also offers ring sizing, stone setting, remounting, re-shanking, LASER welding technology, chain repairs, watch batteries and bands, engraving, and custom jewelry design.

“I love when a piece I have worked on touches someone’s heart,” says Dawn. “To see someone tear up when they see their sentimental item restored or reworked into something new is the best!”

Grady’s takes their work seriously, because they know customers don’t trust just anyone with their precious valuables.

“We also try very hard to treat others as we would like to be treated: The Golden Rule,” she says. “We cannot please everyone – no one can – but we try our best each day to serve our guests with beautiful merchandise and quality service. And if we don’t have what someone wants and cannot get it, I will do my best to help them find it – even if that means sending them elsewhere. I believe in supporting other community businesses whenever possible.” 

For the holiday season, Grady’s will be extending their hours to be open on Mondays in December (they are normally closed on Mondays) and open Thursday nights in December up until Christmas beyond their usual 5:30 p.m. closing time until 8 p.m.

Another special event will be on February 20, 2025, when Grady’s will mark 55 years in business! To celebrate the store’s 50^th anniversary in 2020, the Conway mayor proclaimed this same date Grady’s Jeweler’s Day in Conway.

“We have been blessed by the Lord to have wonderful sales reps, customers, and friends who have supported our family business for decades,” says Dawn, who says any spare time she does have is spent with her children and granddaughter or watching CCU football and basketball games. “It has grown over the years into something I’m very proud of, being a part of this great community.”

Grady’s Jeweler’s is located at 317 Laurel St. in Conway. For more information and updates, visit www.gradysjewelers.com.