The Story of Gittelson Jewelers: Minneapolis' Skyway Diamond Icon

 Gittelson Jewelers, a historic and beloved staple of the downtown Minneapolis jewelry scene. Known affectionately by its slogan, "Diamonds in the Skyway," this family-owned and operated luxury boutique has a rich history spanning over four decades.

📜 Origin and Founding

The foundation for the shop began with Eugene "Gene" Gittelson, who originally learned the jewelry trade working at classic downtown institutions like Dayton’s, Powers, and National Jewelers. In August 1985, Gene noticed a local jeweler looking to exit the market. He spent hours observing the high foot traffic traversing the downtown skyway system before taking a bold leap to establish his own independent fine jewelry house.

The shop initially earned fame as the "quaint little jewelry store on 7th Street," tucked inside a tiny 297-square-foot space in the Northstar Center.

🎸 Brushes with Royalty and Stars

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, downtown Minneapolis was buzzing with energy. The Minnesota Twins won two World Series championships, and the local music scene was dominated by First Avenue and Prince. Gene Gittelson’s enterprising and highly social nature led him to cultivate relationships with several icons:

• Kirby Puckett: The legendary Minnesota Twins star was a personal friend of Gene's and famously partnered with the store, offering a signed baseball to customers with every $100 purchase.
• Prince: The musical icon was a regular late-night customer. The staff would occasionally host private 3:00 AM appointments for Prince to browse diamonds and fine jewelry in complete privacy. A framed 2004 Rolling Stone cover hung in their shop showing Prince wearing one of Gittelson's custom pieces.

💎 Passing the Torch and Relocation

As the years progressed, Gene’s son, Michael Gittelson, joined the business after a stint pursuing acting in Beverly Hills, where he sold luxury items to celebrities. Together with long-time general manager Molly Braun, the father-son duo maintained an old-school, face-to-face approach to retail. While many businesses moved fully online, the Gittelsons leaned on generational trust, word-of-mouth, and the personal experience of letting customers physically touch and customize their pieces.

After 36 years anchoring the Northstar Center, sweeping building renovations forced them to relocate in late 2021. To stay connected to their skyway footprint, Michael and Gene moved the storefront just one block over to its current home on the skyway level of the Six Quebec Building (601 S Marquette Ave, Suite 218).

Today, Gittelson Jewelers continues to specialize in custom engagement rings, fine diamond heirlooms, and in-house jewelry repairs, welcoming back the grandchildren of some of their original 1980s clients.