When John Carter, CEO of nearly 100-year-old Jack Lewis Jewelers, set out to build a new flagship in Bloomington, Illinois, the challenge was clear: fit a full luxury retail experience onto a lot under an acre. Triple the amount of case space. A three-bench goldsmith shop. A private bridal suite. A gem lab. A full bar. A rooftop terrace. 

The answer was to build up instead of out, creating a two-story space with a dramatic 23-foot ceiling, custom laser-cut lattice screens, and serious infrastructure (dedicated polishing room, ventilation, dust collection) tucked seamlessly into a luxury shell. Every detail, right down to a legacy case built to hold decades of store history, served the goal of making the building carry the weight of a hundred-year story, not just house new fixtures.

The case space grew from 170 to nearly 400 linear feet. The team added a third goldsmith and a new luxury brand partnership. The rooftop now hosts client events and community gatherings. Long-time customers walk in and can’t believe it: “It makes you proud of your town, doesn’t it?” one told Carter. He calls it, without hesitation, “the nicest thing I’ve ever built in my life.” Proof of what’s possible when great construction stays in service of a client’s vision.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS