Tuesday, March 14, 2000
Store reaches end of an era
Couple ready to retire, close Hamilton shop
BY MARK SCHMETZER
Enquirer Contributor
HAMILTON — The note from the longtime customer was a mixture of congratulations and chagrin.
“Who will I trust now?” the writer wondered while offering best wishes to Marcia and Bob Sugerman on their retirement.
The Sugermans are in the last 48 days of operating Morris Jewelry and Loans, an anchor of the downtown Hamilton business district since 1949. They are retiring, and the jewelry and pawn business started by Marcia's father, Isadore “Biz” Koshover, will close for good May 1.
“People would always say, "Golly, you've been here so long. When are you going to retire?'” said Mrs. Sugerman, whose father died 15 months ago at age 94. “We'd always say, "2000.' Suddenly, it's here. But we're lucky. We've got our health. We feel good.”
Mrs. Sugerman's father started his first business, a pawnshop, on Sixth Street in downtown Cincinnati in 1924. He moved to Central Avenue, and when that location fell victim to the Queen City's 1948 Master Plan, he moved to Hamilton.
His first location was in a building previously occupied by Morris Clothing. Because the name already was on the building and spelled out in the sidewalk out front, Mr. Koshover kept it for his business.
The name followed the business as it moved to Third Street, first to where Fat Wally's restaurant is now, and in 1970 across the street to 11 S. Third, its current location.
“This business hasn't been without its headaches, but I think the way people look at pawnbrokers has grown very favorably,” Mrs. Sugerman said. “We provide a service. Sometimes, you need money and you can't go to the bank.
“Our business is very confidential. One time, a lady came in and asked me how much her husband paid for a ring. I said, "Why don't you ask him?' She said, "He'd never tell me.' I said, "Well, if he won't tell you, I'm not going to.' Why would I want to get into the middle of that?”
The Sugermans, who live in Blue Ash and were married on St. Patrick's Day in 1968, started their going-out-of-business sale March 1, and they take great pride in pointing out its legitimacy.
“We didn't bring in any new merchandise,” Mr. Sugerman said. Any merchandise not sold by May 1 will be given to charity or disposed of some other way, they said. The building also will be sold.
“We were always fortunate with all of the wonderful kids — I call them my "kids' — who worked for us,” Mrs. Sugerman said. “We had a fabulous rapport with all of them.
“We've had so many people come in and say, "It just won't be the same,'” she added. “One woman came in and said she remembered when Dad sold her her first guitar. She was 10 at the time.”
After decades of working six days a week, the Sugermans are looking forward to indulging in a bit of traveling — if they have time while also volunteering in literacy or hospice programs or, perhaps, serving as tour guides at hospitals.
“We've been very fortunate,” Mrs. Sugerman said. “We've been successful because of the community, and we hope to give back.”
The store's hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 863-4431.
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