Elie Hannoush, Founder of Namesake Jewelry Chain, Dies

By Rob Bates | June 27, 2025

Elias “Elie” Hannoush, the Lebanese immigrant who helped grow a small Albany, N.Y., store into a national jewelry chain, died on June 15. He was 73.

Born in 1952, Hannoush was the eldest of eight boys, who lived with their parents in a one-bedroom apartment in Zahle, Lebanon. At 13, Hannoush left school to support his family by working as a jeweler’s apprentice. By 17, he was already a master goldsmith.

While Hannoush was earning a decent salary in Lebanon, he dreamed of pursuing a life in the United States. His father refused to let him go alone, so his parents sold all their possessions and moved the entire family to America in 1971.

Hannoush did entry-level factory jobs until he and his wife, Georgette—whom he married in 1973—opened a Lebanese food restaurant, which became known for its steak and cheese sandwiches.

In 1978, Hannoush got a job as a bench jeweler at a Kay Jewelers in Albany, N.Y. His skill soon had him handling repairs for Kay stores across New York and Vermont, as well as for department stores like Service Merchandise. He also began designing and selling jewelry, sometimes from his car in a local parking lot.

By 1984, he had saved enough money to open the first Hannoush Jewelers store in the then-new Crossgates Mall in Albany.

Working with his brothers, Hannoush expanded the business in the Northeast, and eventually nationwide; at its height, the chain numbered 75 locations. It now has over 50, which are run by Elie’s sons David and Albert, as well as their cousins, with ownership divided by region.

An online obit said that Elie Hannoush “met thousands of people through his stores—some he never saw again, others became lifelong clients, and many became friends. Visiting his store felt like entering his home: He greeted everyone with a warm handshake, or a hug and kiss, and the scent of his cologne lingered long after you’d leave.

“He especially loved working alongside his children…. He taught them to treat everyone with the same respect—whether they came for a small service or a major purchase—and that a lasting relationship mattered more than quick sales.”

“My dad never shied away from doing anything in the store, whether it was cleaning a showcase or sweeping up the floor,” David told the Albany Times Union. “There was no job that was too small.”

Toward the end of his life, Hannoush returned to Lebanon and his hometown, Zahle.

“While he loved the U.S. for the opportunities it provided, Lebanon remained his true home,” said the obit. “Because he never had the chance to enjoy Lebanon in his youth, he was determined to spend his later years there. It is almost poetic that Elie’s life ended where it began—not far from that one-bedroom home he left over 50 years ago.”

On Facebook, Hannoush Jewelers called its founder “so much more than a visionary entrepreneur—he was a mentor, a leader, and a dear friend. He was funny, brilliant, kind, and endlessly generous. His warmth and wisdom shaped not only our company, but every life he touched.”

Hannoush is survived by wife Georgette, four children, 14 grandchildren, and 34 great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by a grandson, Michael David Hannoush.

The family asks that memorial donations be made to St. Ann Maronite Catholic Church or Hannoush Pediatric Care Endowment at Albany Medical Center.

(Photo from Facebook)