Gabriela Dubon with a bamboo coral necklace in her shop.
By Nancy Peckenham
A woman who immigrated from Guatemala nearly two decades ago has opened a jewelry store on Broadway in Newburgh, making the case that even in a downturn economy in a city down on its luck, people are still pursuing the American dream.
Gabriela Dubon, a mother of four, moved three years ago from Manhattan to Newburgh, where she now lives with a son and daughter, both in their 20s. Both children have helped build the jewelry business.
Gabriela helps a customer find a bracelet.
Gabriela says that about five years ago she and her daughter, Gabby, began making jewelry as a hobby. The two strung beads and ornaments to create fashionable necklaces and bracelets for themselves. Soon they were making jewelry for friends and Gabby was selling them to associates in the law firm where she works. Her son helped her build a website where she sells the jewelry online.
As word spread in Newburgh about her jewelry, the owner of Alejandrina’s Unisex Salon invited Gabriela to present her work to clients of the salon. It proved successful and she offered Gabriela an adjoining space in the storefront where she could sell her jewelry. A few weeks before Christmas, GV Jewelry opened its doors.
GV Jewels celebrated a grand opening on April 27th.
Gabriela credits the opportunities she has found to her faith in Jesus. She clearly enjoys designing and making the jewelry and is grateful that can do what she loves. She also sells purses, scarves and jewelry that she purchases, like a bamboo coral and cornelian necklace or one made of magnesite, a stone that resembles turquoise.
On a recent afternoon she had a small but steady stream of customers who came in to buy the moderately priced jewelry. Gabriela says that she has done some advertising but a lot of her customers hear about it through word of mouth.
She thinks her small store can make a difference on Broadway and finds that people are friendly to her. “I like it here,” she said. “I’m in the right place.”
Gabriela and her daughter, Gabby, make most of the jewelry in the store.
Loading...
