Custom, high-end jewelry boutique coming to Madison. Get the details

The first business to open in Madison's Magnolia District will be Klein Jewelry when construction is complete this fall.

Kristi and Eddie Klein are taking the mom-and-pop approach and will offer custom jewelry to their customers in a brick-and-mortar way.

There are two buildings associated with Phase 1 of the Magnolia District, one a 10,000-square-foot building that will house the Foxtail Restaurant. The other building is 6,000 square feet and have retail and office space. It will be broken up into four slices of 1,500 square feet each, two downstairs and two upstairs. The two buildings will be connected in the middle by an elevator tower.

Situated on nine acres in downtown Madison near the intersection of Madison Avenue and Magnolia Street, The District project got its beginnings in 2005 through the efforts of Greg Johnston, who is a developer and contractor. Johnston and his parents, Brent and Cynthia Johnston, wanted to restore historic buildings in the area and recreate historically accurate new buildings.

Klein Jewelry will have 1,500 square feet downstairs and will be ready as quickly as developer Johnston can complete the construction.

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"All of our fingers and toes are crossed that we will be able to open in October. That is what we are counting on," said Kristi, who has been in the jewelry business most of her adult life as she has worked with local stores doing repair and custom work.

Eddie worked with FedEx for 23 years until his position was part of cutbacks in the industry.

It was at that point the two decided to jump into building a business together with a store front.

"We are really trying to create an approachable environment that will be more of an intimate setting and a boutique-style of store," she said. "We won't be a very traditional store. We will have options in the cases, but we are geared more toward custom jewelry. That feels like what everybody is looking for these days."

She says her experience with CAD design will help in being able to bring customers' visions to reality. She will be the craftsman and the artist of the business, while Eddie says he will handle the business side of the store.

He also is studying Gemology at the International School Of Gemology "to bring a next level of expertise to our store," he said.

"As a family-owned and operated establishment, we understand the significance of every piece of jewelry that passes through our doors," Kristi said. "Whether it's a custom engagement ring symbolizing a lifetime of love or a heartfelt gift marking a milestone achievement, we pour our hearts into every we do, ensuring it exceeds your expectations."

In addition to creating jewelry, they will offer jewelry repair services, but the custom work is where their hearts are.

"I really love taking multigenerational, inherited pieces and putting them together to create something new," Kristi said. "I have done that on my own the past five years with the custom work. We could see someone coming in with their mom's engagement ring and the diamond from their grandmother's engagement ring and they want to put them together for something they can wear every day. It really means the world to me to make that happen for people. We can't wait to get started."

Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on Twitter @GreenOkra1.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Custom, high-end jewelry boutique coming to Madison. Get the details