With only 4 locations and 3 local owners over almost 100 years, Jack Lewis Jewelers is inextricably woven into the fabric of the Bloomington-Normal community. Read the whole tale below, or jump directly to your favorite section.
The story of Jack Lewis Jewelers begins in 1927, at the doorstep of the Great Depression, when Jack Lewis opened his shop in downtown Bloomington, IL. In those days, the bustling rail lines made Bloomington a natural hub between Chicago and St. Louis, which gave master watchmaker and hand-engraver Jack Lewis a brilliant idea. He knew railroad conductors were required to keep their pocket watches regulated each month, so he strategically located his store along the Chicago & Alton Railroad line.
A native of southern Illinois, Mr. Lewis picked up the watchmaking trade while working at a jewelry store in Marion when he was about 10 years old. After studying at Bowman Technical School in Lancaster, PA for a few years, Jack Lewis returned to Marion just as the Depression was beginning to hit the southern Illinois mining communities.
Sensing better opportunity further north, Mr. Lewis moved to Bloomington and accepted a watchmaking position with Ulbrich Jewelry. Shortly thereafter, at just 21 years old, he officially branched out on his own and started Jack Lewis Jewelers.
As he refined his craft, Mr. Lewis’ reputation for accuracy and trust quickly spread, and his talent and commitment to exact standards came into high demand.
His success established Jack Lewis Jewelers as a reliable stop for precision timepieces, a reality that perhaps culminated in 1969 when the store became an Official Rolex Jeweler, distinguishing us as one of the longest-running Rolex partners in America among independent, family-owned retail jewelry stores. Jack Lewis amplified Bloomington’s profile as a regional destination, which helped grow the local economy by attracting out-of-town business. Both are legacies we still celebrate and develop today.
A pivotal moment happened in 1973 when Jack Lewis hired John Wohlwend to be “a guy behind the diamond counter.” However, it quickly became clear that Mr. Wohlwend was destined for more than diamonds. His affinity for service, relationships, fine arts, storytelling, and precision craftsmanship made him a natural choice to take a larger role in the store’s operations.
Together, Jack Lewis and John Wohlwend strengthened the store’s impact on the Bloomington-Normal community throughout the 1970s and early 80s. In 1984, when Eastland Mall underwent a $3.65M expansion, adding over 90,000 sqft of new space across 28 new storefronts, Lewis and Wohlwend decided this was the time, and the place, to expand. Jack Lewis Jewelers leased almost 1,700 sqft of space and opened a second location in Eastland Mall.
The second location would primarily feature fashion jewelry, watches, and jewelry repair, while the original downtown location would continue to focus on engagement rings and wedding bands. By this point (1984-85), both locations were now managed by John Wohlwend.
In 1992, then as president of Jack Lewis, Inc., John Wohlwend took a risk and hired a scrappy 18-year-old Central Catholic high school student named John Carter to work at the store taking care of mail and trash. Given the two shared the same first name, a solution was needed to avoid confusion with customers, so “John” continued to be the name referring to Mr. Wohlwend, and John Carter started going by “Carter,” a moniker that sticks to this day.
At the time of Carter’s hire, it didn’t seem out of the ordinary, but in retrospect, 1992 was a remarkable year in the history of the business. It was the only period where the careers of all 3 current and future owners (Jack Lewis, John Wohlwend, and John Carter) intersected at the same time.
In 1993, at age 87, Jack Lewis decided to retire. After 66 years at the helm, his steady leadership had cemented Jack Lewis Jewelers as a Bloomington-Normal institution, and one of the pillar local businesses in the community. Further, his development of John Wohlwend had set the stage for a clear transition of power. Now with 20 years of success and experience, Wohlwend purchased the business from Jack Lewis in 1993, becoming only the second owner in its history.
In the mid-1990s, the Bloomington-Normal community was rapidly expanding, with most traffic and residential areas shifting east. Despite the two locations (Downtown and Eastland Mall), Wohlwend instinctively knew that continued success would mean moving the store to a new location. Seeking to prioritize visibility and security for Jack Lewis Jewelers, Wohlwend wisely selected a renovated bank on the growing east side of town. This inspired choice not only rooted the store in a more upscale, accessible neighborhood, but being a former bank, the footprint already included a full walk-in vault, emphasizing Wohlwend’s commitment to building trust and further safeguarding the irreplaceable collections of fine jewelry and watches.
Shortly after assuming ownership, Wohlwend made the big move in 1994, closing the Downtown and Eastland Mall stores and consolidating both locations into one new Eastland Drive location.
Wohlwend also moved away from the “old-fashioned department store” model and decided to focus on what he felt the store did best: luxury giftware, diamonds, watches and fine jewelry. These years were also marked by an unwavering commitment to community service, as Jack Lewis Fine Jewelry became known as a leader in philanthropic activity. John largely defined success not by how many pieces of jewelry he sold in a year, but by the impact the business made in the community.
In the early 2000’s, after almost a decade of ownership, John Wohlwend and wife Jan were already formulating a retirement plan, and they wanted someone to carry on the legacy of the store. Wohlwend’s choice for the role was John Carter, but there was an obstacle: Carter wasn’t around anymore.
In 1997, after graduating from Illinois State University, Carter left the store to take a job as a traveling watch salesman for the Maurice Lacroix watch company. He would later say those years on the road taught him the nuances of the luxury watch world. But beyond that, he saw firsthand what delighted clients, what disappointed them, and how a local jewelry store could truly stand out.
"That's where I learned the business the best," said Carter. "I saw what worked and what didn’t work for retailers on my route. I also saw what might work that certain owners were not open to. I kept thinking, 'If I had my own business, I'd do this or that.'"
Little did Carter know he was being groomed to have his own business.
In 2002, after extensive conversations between the two, Carter returned to the store as a vested partner and together, Wohlwend & Carter devised a 10-year transition plan, which would culminate with Carter buying the store upon Wohlwend’s retirement. Carter was able to accomplish the plan in just eight and a half years, allowing Wohlwend to retire sooner than expected at the end of 2010. In March 2011, Carter officially purchased the store, and wasted no time making significant changes.
The ‘Jack Lewis Fine Jewelry’ name and its iconic script logo had been local staples throughout the Wohlwend era, but among his first actions as CEO, Carter amended them both, changing the name to Jack Lewis Jewelers and adopting a cleaner, more modern logo. Along with the new look came a new vision: moving away from the ‘fine jewelry anniversary store’ and transforming Jack Lewis into the diamond engagement ring destination for all of Central Illinois.
Then 37-years old, Carter saw the future of Jack Lewis as younger, more dynamic, and more approachable with a primary focus on loose diamonds, engagement rings, wedding bands and (perhaps most innovatively) proposal experiences for young couples. Factor in a complete interior renovation and a wholly reimagined marketing strategy, and it was clear by late 2011 that the new generation of Jack Lewis Jewelers had arrived.
As the amplified engagement ring direction took off, Carter was adamant that the store not alienate the loyal, traditional clients who had built Jack Lewis into a household name. To that end, rather than market the new Jack Lewis to young people by screaming about price or through slapstick humor, Carter decided to highlight the aspect of jewelry that crosses all generations: its emotion.
It’s delicate work attempting to reposition a beloved local business that started during the Great Depression, so the key was honoring what Jack Lewis Jewelers had been while pivoting toward what it wanted it to become. Carter settled on the idea of emotional ‘meaning’ as the bridge between the past and the future.
You buy it for a reason. And the emotional connection with jewelry is true at any age. Carter saw it as an easy pivot to talk about engagement rings in those terms without betraying the brand Jack Lewis had spent 84 years building.
It gave rise to the new slogan – Jack Lewis Jewelers: we know what this means.
Beyond the shift toward engagement rings, the early years of the Carter-era were also marked by two other significant elements: an innovative focus on offering engagement experiences to young couples (instead of only selling product), and an expansion into modern, on-trend fashion jewelry.
“Today’s couples often claim they’re as interested in generating memorable experiences as they are in buying a diamond engagement ring,” Carter said in 2012. “So we asked ourselves, ‘What would it look like for us, a jewelry store, to help our clients create an unforgettable experience around their proposal?’ And that’s how ideas like Ring Cam and Pic Ninja were born.”
“We saw an opportunity to be a trail-blazer in this area,” Carter continued, “to not only provide loose diamonds and engagement rings, but to also play a key role in fashioning experiences that our clients will remember forever.” As of 2025, those two specific programs have been phased out and replaced with a remarkably elevated, in-store engagement shopping experience at the new Jack Lewis Jewelers.
The other giant leap forward began in January 2016 when Missy Ranney joined the Jack Lewis team. “With the increased focus on diamond engagement rings and experiences, I knew we needed a fresh perspective on our fashion jewelry to complement the engagement side, and I also knew I wasn’t the right person to do it,” Carter said in 2017. “So we brought Missy in and put her in charge of keeping us on-trend with the best designers and the most fashionable looks... and it’s been amazing. Missy has transformed our cases into what you’d find in New York or L.A.”
After several years spent reimagining the brand, renovating the Eastland Drive location, and settling-in to what Jack Lewis Jewelers looked like under Carter’s leadership, the foundation had been laid and the business was on the verge of skyrocketing. Adding Missy was arguably the final piece, because starting in 2017, Jack Lewis Jewelers began experiencing a surge of growth and impact that continues to this day.
In 2018, Carter was named President of the American Gem Society, which kicked off a multi-year period of national prominence and influence that would be capped, in 2024, by becoming the youngest-ever recipient (at age 49) to receive the Robert M. Shipley Award, the most prestigious prize in the jewelry industry.
This period also included COVID, which threatened the livelihoods of retailers everywhere. Under Carter’s leadership, the store found innovative ways to maintain and grow its position during this challenging time, with Carter frequently offering encouragement and advice to friends and colleagues around the industry on regular ZOOM calls. The impact was perhaps headlined by a widely-celebrated ad campaign during Christmas 2020 which hit the right notes at the right time, encouraging people to shop local with the powerful tagline: “It’s not about the ‘new normal.’ It’s about Bloomington-Normal."
Beyond industry impact and local impact, the store also expanded its digital impact with viral social media programs and podcasts like CarterCast, LegitiMissy, and Share the Repair, which added high-production value, showcased the knowledge and talents of the staff, and made Jack Lewis Jewelers a resource for jewelry shoppers both locally and around the country. Missy became a part-owner of the store during this time, and the staff continued to grow…
After several years spent reimagining the brand, renovating the Eastland Drive location, and settling-in to what Jack Lewis Jewelers looked like under Carter’s leadership, the foundation had been laid and the business was on the verge of skyrocketing. Adding Missy was arguably the final piece, because starting in 2017, Jack Lewis Jewelers began experiencing a surge of growth and impact that continues to this day.
During most of 2022, Carter and a small circle of insiders were quietly exploring top secret real estate behind the scenes. After considering the pros and cons of a couple locations, fate intervened (it’s a long story) and introduced an unexpected opportunity with a vacant lot on Galena Road, right next to Ancho & Agave and Biaggi’s, in one of the most up-and-coming areas of Bloomington-Normal. On April 26, 2023, Carter officially signed the paperwork and bought the land for what would become the new home of Jack Lewis Jewelers. A little over a year later, on June 13, 2024, Carter and Missy hosted the official groundbreaking ceremony.
Together with the top local talent at Hewn Architectural Studio and Catalyst Construction, work officially started on June 17, 2024, and in just 375 days, the completed store passed final inspection on June 26, 2025. (You can see the entire process start-to-finish in our Construction Catch-Up series on the Jack Lewis YouTube channel.) The weekend of June 27-29 was jam-packed with move-in activities as the staff stretched, and successfully hit, the target soft-open date of Monday, June 30.
July 2025 was full of minor fixes, furniture deliveries, private events, and generally getting used to the new space, which is unquestionably one of the premier independent jewelry stores in America. (We would know. We do a lot of travel.) You can see plenty of photos and videos of the new store throughout this website and on the Jack Lewis socials. Or better yet, stop by in person.
With the Grand Opening on August 7-9, 2025, the next era of Jack Lewis Jewelers is underway, embracing the concept of approachable, modern luxury and redefining what you should expect from a jewelry store. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for Jack Lewis Jewelers – one that extends beyond the showroom.
During the initial building design phases last year, we were thrilled with the beauty and creativity being proposed by our architectural and interior décor teams. As those ideas were adopted, it became clear our new setting would be a structural marvel that made a dramatic impression and redefined the overall concept of what it meant to “be” Jack Lewis Jewelers. These unmistakable steps toward sophistication, elegance, and luxury compelled a broad reimagination of how we express our identity, from visuals to packaging to messaging.
But crucially, with a brand as timeless and historic as Jack Lewis, these upgrades needed to honor our heritage and create a seamless progression from the past to the present. We sharpened the logo, introduced a sophisticated color palette led by Wellstone and Champagne, and paired dramatic serif type with a confident modern sans. The Lattice Links motif adds a refined texture, and the new luxurious packaging turns every unboxing into a moment worthy of the jewelry inside. The result is an elevated iconic brand that retains the emotional, meaning-driven heart of what has set Jack Lewis apart for almost 100 years. In summary, the awe-inspiring design of our new home offered a chance to build on our heritage while revitalizing the whole scope of the Jack Lewis brand identity, and we seized the opportunity.
The new store marks a new era for Jack Lewis Jewelers. The design, space, and amenities of our new setting offer the opportunity to reimagine who we are & what we’re known for, while retaining the celebratory, meaning-driven heart of what has set us apart for almost 100 years. Because above all, we remain foremost focused on why you’re here, and what that piece of jewelry means.
We will, of course, continue to offer the best in fashion jewelry, luxury timepieces, and repair services. But our center remains diamonds, engagement rings, and wedding bands. And now in the new store, you’ll be able to find your perfect symbol with an unprecedented, elevated experience.
As we keep growing into the surrounding communities and neighboring states, the amenities of our new store and the nearby restaurants make a visit from out-of-town well worth the trip. Jack Lewis Jewelers exists to champion love, and we propose a future where all your mightiest memories are sealed with a symbol. We’re the Midwest’s modern, approachable luxury destination for diamonds, engagement rings & elevated experiences, celebrating your story with jewelry that shows your love means everything.
Jack Lewis Jewelers exists to champion love, and we propose a future where all your mightiest memories are sealed with a symbol. We’re the Midwest’s modern, approachable luxury destination for diamonds, engagement rings & elevated experiences, celebrating your story with jewelry that shows your love means everything.
