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Local jeweller retiring after almost 75 years in the everâ€"changing business ewelry has always been a part of IDoug Fleischmann‘s life. But that‘s changed recently. After almost 75 years of busiâ€" ness, Peter Fleischmann and Sons Jewellers â€" a company started by Doug‘s father â€" has been sold, marking the beginning of Doug‘s wellâ€"deserved retirement. "The time comes for everyone, and it was our time," said Doug‘s wife, Arlene Fleischmann. End of an era Doug‘s father, Peter, had worked as a jewelry salesman in Toronto before opening his own shop, Irwin‘s Credit Jewellers, in 1934 near the old Dunker building in Kitchener. He named the store Irwin after a former employer to avoid using his German surname. "When the war was on, they didn‘t like German names on the stores, especially it seemed in this area," Arlene said. But that was shortâ€"lived, and in the early 1940s the store‘s name changed to Peter Fleischmann and Sons Jewellers, reflecting Peter‘s hope that his two boys would join him one day. In fact, Doug remembers a time when there were 20 jewelry stores between Frederick and Water streets in Kitchener. Today, there is one, maybe two, he said. During the Second World War, jewelry was considered a luxury, so Peter started selling silverware doorâ€"toâ€"door. His offer was hard to turn down â€" a full set cost $5 down, plus $1 a week until it was paid for. "It was a really smart idea," said Arlene, as close to 1,000 people a week came in to the store to pay their $1 installment. "Customers repeat this story today about how their parents and grandparents became loyal cusâ€" tomers because ‘Mr. Fleischmann trusted them.‘" Over the years the jewelry busiâ€" ness saw its ups and downs. Peter was a dynamic man, Doug recalls, who was out of the store more than he was in it,; meetâ€" ing people and making contacts. By Jennirer ORMSTON ___ Chronicle Staff Peter Fleischmann and Sons Jewellers has sold after being a familyâ€"owned business in Waterloo Region for almost 75 years. Started by the late Peter Fleischmann, right, it was later taken over by his son, Doug, centre. An open house will be held on June 25 to celebrate Doug‘s retirement. A When at a function of any kind, Peter would greet his friends but sit with strangers. _ â€" "In other words, he was always working the room," Arlene said. "He knew how to work a room, but everybody liked him." Doug followed in his father‘s footsteps when he was in Grade 12. After breaking his leg, he was off of school for a long time. And when he went back, he knew he wasn‘t going to pass the year. "So one day in the middle of class I just got up and walked out," he said. BUSINESS "The teacher said, ‘Where are you going?‘ And I said, ‘I don‘t know but I‘m not staying here.‘ " "But a beautiful piece of quality jewelry still will always be treasured." NJ MA NA SCCLS Doug, 74, purchased the store still will always be from his parents in 1976, and his » mother, Hilda, continued to work treasured. there as a salesperson for a few â€"Arlene Fleischmann hours every day until she was 84 Former uptown jeweller years old. "She was a lady," Ariene said. "It was always a visit when you His first stop was his father‘s came in with her. That‘s what HOaTIWE store, where Peter suggested he come on board. In time he earned a good repuâ€" tation as a quality engraver. In fact, at one point he was doing the engraving for 25 other jewelry stores. WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, June 18, 2008 + 17 The store moved a few times over the years, finally ending up in uptown Waterloo, at 114 King St. S., in 1995. The 625â€"squareâ€"foot shop was filled with watches, rings, chains and pewter, but no cosâ€" tume jewelry. For instance, there was a time when shoppers went to a jewelry store if they wanted a new watch. Today, however, they can pick one up everywhere from drugstores to boutiques, Ariene said. she enjoyed." By that time, they had little choice but to leave downtown Kitchener because their customers were afraid to venture there, Doug As well, people used to put on their formal attire and jewels when heading out for a nice dinner or to the theatre. Now, people are much more casual. And the couple didn‘t regret that decision. ~_"That was one of the best things we ever did," said Arlene, who helped Doug run the store. _ The Fleischmanns have noticed several changes in the business over the years. _ â€" "But a beautiful piece of quality jewelry still will always be treasâ€" ured," she said. There was also a time when people paid for their jewelry in cash only. Although that changed as credit cards became commonly used, the Fleischmanns continued to write their bills by hand. And they never bought a computer or fax machine. In May, Doug and Arlene entered a new chapter in their lives â€" retirement â€" after selling their store, which is now called the Goldsmith. "It‘s time," Ariene said. Friends and former customers are invited to celebrate the couâ€" ple‘s retirement at an open house on June 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the community room at the Zehrs Market, in the Laurentian Power Centre, on Ottawa Street in Kitchener. _ "But, you know, it worked for us," Arlene said. "If you‘re in busiâ€" ness for 60â€"some years, you must be doing something right."