CHURN: JEWELERY & CLOTHING SHOPS OPEN

evan piscitelli 022015Jeweler Evan Piscitelli in his new Red Bank shop, Thrill Her Diamonds. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Rcsm2_010508This edition of Retail Churn offers a belated welcome to a jewelry store that opened in downtown Red Bank in December.

Also in this Churn: a new women’s clothing boutique; a new stock brokerage; and an update on the Red Bank Walgreens.

• madison 022014 1One of the window displays at Madison Boutique. (Click to enlarge)

Now settling in at 26 Monmouth Street is Thrill Her Diamonds, owned by 31-year-old Evan Piscitelli of Colts Neck.

Piscitelli had been operating the business for six years in Ocean Township, but longed to have a storefront presence here, he tells Churn.

“Ocean Township was good, but I’m a big fan of Red Bank, so I always had an eye on it,” he says. “This is a shopping town.”

It’s also something of a custom-jewelry town, with Joel McFadden Designs, Goldtinker and Goldtinker’s spawn, Poor Cat Designs, offering their wares. Thrill Her makes custom bling, too, with a specialty in wedding and engagement rings, said Piscitelli, a part-time lobbyist – he majored in government at Georgetown – who “grew up in the business:” his father owned the Gold Trader in Long Branch.

“The jewelry stores here have great reputations, but we’re all a little different,” he says. “I’m excited to be among them.”

Thrill Her took over the space last tenanted by the peripatetic Hip & Humble Home furniture.

*****

Madison Boutique has opened at 68 Broad Street, former home of Cesar’s Creations. Owner Evelyn McGurk bills Madison as a “fun fashion boutique” offering “trendy fashions for women of all ages.

And here’s something for those who say downtown retailers simply must stay open later to attract shoppers and diners: McGurk says Madison won’t close until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to its Facebook page.

*****

rb walgreens 022215Structural steel has started framing out the Walgreens store under construction on Broad Street in Red Bank, on the longtime location of Rassas Pontiac and Buick. The developer has previously said he intends to open the giant pharmacy this year.

*****

137 broad 022215Capitol Securities Management has opened at 137 Broad Street, taking over the space vacated by Staples. Borough resident Brian Hanlon, formerly of Oppenheimer Securities, is in charge.