OTTAWA, Ohio (WLIO) — It all began more than 125 years ago when Alexander Beckman opened a store in downtown Ottawa.
Five generations later, the business is now led by his great-great-grandson, Greg Beckman, who continues a family tradition that has spanned more than a century.
"It wasn't necessarily a jewelry store at introduction… my great-great grandfather was an optometrist as well. The reason those sort of overlapped is because at the time, jewelers and optometrists used the same tools," said Greg Beckman, owner of Beckman Jewelers.
Over the years, the business evolved into the jewelry and gift store customers know today. Through generations of ownership, Beckman said one thing has remained the same — the importance of building relationships within the community.
"Working with my uncle and my dad for ten years before I purchased the business, I saw the connection they had to the community, whether it's volunteer work in organizations or just the personalities they had towards the customers when they came in the door. That's sort of the key aspect that we believe here, that the connection with the customers is why they come back. We're not just sold on making one sale and having them exit the door, it's the repeat customers, having them come back, that's the reason we're still here."
They take great pride in being part of some of life's biggest milestones, sometimes across multiple generations of the same family.
"It feels wonderful. Especially when you have a young dad coming in, saying 'this is where my parents bought my baptism gifts or my first communion gifts, and I want to get my son or daughter something similar.' It's just a feeling that you cannot duplicate."
The Beckman family said there's something special about doing business in a small community like Ottawa.
"I enjoy seeing people I know come through the door and I appreciate them letting me know how much this business has meant to them for their family through generations. I tell a lot of people, as a small business owner in Ottawa, I wouldn't want to own a business anywhere else."
