By Mary Corrado
Associate Editor
Perhaps you had a clock to repair or a special gift to buy back in 1948, and you went to 1168 N. LaSalle St. to visit the first Frank's Jewelry—consisting of one showcase and one desk. You would have met Frank Noda, skilled at horology and gemology, and his wife Irene, the bookkeeper, and enjoyed their personal attention and precise workmanship. The couple is still running the family business today, 55 years later, and the visit is just as satisfying.
Born in California, Frank Noda fought and was injured in World War II. He was sent to recuperate at a Catholic hospital in Rockford, IL, where he met a hospital worker who was also originally from California: Irene. Frank went to Polytechnic Institute (now Bradley University) to study horology and gemology on the GI Bill. Meanwhile, Irene studied comptometry at Felt & Tarrant in the Merchandise Mart, then did bookkeeping for Florsheim. "They were building their new building, and I had to keep track of every nail and piece of lumber!" she said.
But when the two married in 1947, they began to work together. They made jewelry, repaired timepieces and broken jewelry, and adapted old pieces to new needs. The children and grandchildren grew up in the shop. "One granddaughter used to fall asleep here, and we would put her in one of the showcases" for a protected place to sleep safely, said Irene. "Customers still come in and ask, 'Where's the little girl who slept in the showcase?'" That child has graduated from Whitney Young High School by now.
Customers do return over and over, very happy to find a place to repair treasured pieces or to have grandmother's taste updated to a new generation, "from old to new." Reproductions of antique lockets please those who prefer "from new to old." If you have stones, they'll set them in a ring or bracelet or whatever you desire.
Most customers come to delight in the wide assortment of jewelry: silver, silverplate, gold, real stones and imitation stones, amber, venetian beads, freshwater pearls, cameos, anything you can imagine.
Those with an upcoming wedding, christening, baptism, communion, confirmation, birthday, graduation, or other occasion can browse the showcases for the perfect items. Prices are so reasonable that you can have a teenaged daughter accompany you to "pick out what you like under $25" and she'll have plenty of lovely choices. Of course, the shop stocks many more expensive, exquisite choices as well.
Picture frames, watches, pocket watches, clocks, ID bracelets, pendants, card cases, key chains, pens, charms, pill boxes, letter openers, cufflinks, lighters...the one unifying factor is the high quality. Any item from Frank's Jewelry is an item that will please the person who receives it.
Frank's Jewelry, 2839 N. Clark St., is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. Call (773) 348-6268 .
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