Korman Fine Jewelry owners Kat and Larry Stokes say they finally found the right property for an expansion of their Austin, Texas, flagship after a yearslong search in one of the hottest real estate markets in the country.
Korman is taking over a site at 2901 N. Lamar Blvd. that formerly housed University Cyclery, a beloved bicycle shop that closed in 2017. The empty structure had become a blight on its neighborhood, but now the Stokeses will bring a luxury jewelry store to that iconic corner in Austin’s Pemberton Heights.
“It took four years to find the right location, and when we did, it seemed like the stars aligned,” Kat Stokes says.
The new store will open its doors sometime this summer, she adds. and will provide community gathering spaces for everyone to enjoy. Korman has hired local firm Michael Hsu Office of Architecture for the project. Hsu is known for working in hospitality, so the interiors he creates offer a warm, welcoming feel and a focus on customer service—and the Stokeses wanted both in this new location.
“Michael is a University of Texas grad, and he’s built an amazing following among home owners and business owners in Austin. His niche is hotels and restaurants,” says Kat Stokes. “For us, retail is more about hospitality, so we wanted to work with Michael and his team to give Austin shoppers the same experience they’d get in feel and quality at Cartier or Tiffany.”
Korman opened in 1973 and was purchased by the Stokeses in 2018. They have continued the store’s traditions, adding their personality with their motto in life and jewelry of “Celebrate every day.”
Renderings of Korman’s new flagship show how open, airy, and bright it will be. Hsu’s team has designed it with large windows as well as skylights to flood the store with natural light, Kat Stokes notes.
Hsu is giving the store a second-floor balcony that takes advantage of its prime location near a park. The Korman store will be surrounded by the large oak trees of the adjacent park, and clients and visitors will get a panoramic view from the balcony of the lush environment and of Shoal Creek.
The second story will also feature photographs of historic Austin and the former University Cyclery, a place of fond memories for area residents and college students who bought their bicycles there.
Shoppers will come into the Korman store through a custom travertine-and-brass doorway. A large, spacious entry area will feature four chairs arranged for conversation, plus a welcome station where customers can learn more from employees about the store and the brands it carries, Kat Stokes says.
Jewelry collections in the showroom will include Single Stone, Fope, Viltier, Jade Trau, Walters Faith, and Messika, along with such watch brands as Rolex, Omega, Tudor, Blancpain, Ressence, and Grand Seiko.
The store will also have a bridal salon and windows onto the jewelers’ benches, where Korman’s famous Longhorn pieces are made in-house.
“It’s going to be beautiful and something we know people in Austin are proud of,” Kat Stokes says.
Top: The entryway of the upcoming Korman Fine Jewelry store in Austin, Texas, will feature large doors and a welcome station (Renderings courtesy of Korman Fine Jewelry)
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