Roundup: Metro-east jewelry business opens 4th store, plus other biz news
Reiniger Jewelers recently celebrated the grand opening of a new location in Alton.
The three-day celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the RiverBend Growth Association, according to a recent press release.
The grand opening festivities included refreshments, gifts for those who stopped by over the three days, and a grand prize of a $1,500 shopping spree.
Paul Reiniger, owner and third-generation independent jeweler, bought the former Maneke Jewelers at 1633 Washington Ave. from Charlie Maneke in late December, stated the release. The purchase took place shortly after the opening of a third location in Effingham in November.
“Paul knew Charlie was retiring in Alton, and he called him to see if he could buy any equipment for his new Effingham location. Charlie explained that he wanted to find someone to purchase all his items together. At that time, Paul dismissed the idea. But then Paul and Charlie talked again around the second week of December,” Reiniger’s assistant Noelle Reedy stated in the release.
The Alton shop, Reiniger’s fourth location, held a soft opening in February, just before Valentine’s Day.
“We are pleased to have more and more business every day since,” noted Reedy.
The Alton location currently has two full-time and two part-time employees onsite. Included are two former Maneke employees, stated the release.
Reiniger Jewelers features gold and silver jewelry, engagement and wedding rings and watches and provides jewelry repair services and watch batteries. Custom jewelry design and insurance appraisals are also available.
Reiniger Jewelers first opened in East St. Louis in 1918. In 1969, the store moved to Caseyville, where it remained until Paul Reiniger opened the Swansea location – his first – in 1992, stated the release. Reiniger opened a second store in Waterloo in 1993.
For more info about Reiniger Jewelers, call 618-465-1410 or visit reinigerjewelers.com.
Belleville rehab facility under new management
The management of operations at Memorial Care Center, at 4315 Memorial Drive in Belleville, has been taken over by Bethesda Health Group as of April 1, according to a recent release.
This new development is part of a long-term care management agreement between BJC HealthCare and Bethesda. Memorial Care Center, a short-term rehabilitation facility, is the fourth BJC facility managed by Bethesda.
Memorial Hospital will retain ownership, stated the release.
“Bethesda shares our commitment to excellence by providing care and services the right way,” Mike McManus, President of Memorial Hospital, stated in the release.
“Bethesda has been caring for seniors in the post-acute environment for 133 years, so its track record speaks for itself. Memorial Hospital is looking forward to working with the Bethesda team and continuing our own long-standing success rate of providing excellent rehabilitative services at Memorial Care Center to the seniors living in the St. Clair County community.”
For more information about Memorial Care Center, call 618-619-5000 or visit bethesdahealth.org.
Downtown Alton District added to national registry
The National Register of Historic Places has a new addition, thanks to dozens of volunteers in the Alton community.
Alton’s Downtown Historic District was officially added to the list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation, according to an April 7 press release.
The register is part of a national program to “coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources,” stated the release.
“When the people of Alton come together, we can accomplish anything,” Jayne Simmons, President of AltonWorks, stated in the release.
“Members of local organizations including Alton Main Street, Alton Area Landmarks, the Historical Commission and Hayner Library worked with the AltonWorks team and dozens of community volunteers from January of 2019 through early this year, gathering documents, taking photos, verifying property addresses, and researching to ensure everything that was submitted was clear and accurate. This was an amazing effort and everyone who lives, works and plays in downtown Alton will benefit from this distinction.”
Alton already had three historic districts, mainly residential areas, including Middletown, Christian Hill and Upper Alton.
The Middletown Districts expanded area includes 134 new properties, stated the release, and covers 11 blocks downtown from State Street to Ridge Street along Third Street, Broadway and Front Street/Landmarks Boulevard.
This area comprises residential, institutional and commercial properties within the Original Town of Alton and the early Hunter’s Addition. Only a “portion of the actual historic commercial district was included within the jagged southern boundary of the original Middletown Historic District,” stated the release.
“A lot of people assumed that Downtown Alton was already in the National Register of Historic Places,” Dennis Hyland, AIA NCARB, with Kiku Obata and Company, the firm that manages planning, design and architecture for AltonWorks, spearheaded the project for AltonWorks, stated in the release.
“Prior to this recognition formalized on January 4, 2022, only a tiny portion of downtown was included on the registry. This accomplishment is a recognition of something that has been a longtime coming and important to the future revitalization of Alton.”
“I think this national recognition is significant because it changes the way everyone views our downtown,” Lacy McDonald, Genealogy and Local History Manager at The Hayner Public Library District, stated in the release.
“This acknowledgment generates pride in the city and helps people appreciate the beauty and influence of the past.”
A public event to share more info with the community will be announced in the coming weeks.
Learn more about Downtown Alton at downtownalton.com and facebook.com/AltonMainStreet.
