Richmond Hill South Civic honors business, installs officers

Area politicians and the Richmond Hill South Civic Association honored a local jewelry store for its long-term commitment and service to the neighborhood.
Marlowe Jewelers, which has locations in both Richmond Hill and Howard Beach, received the honor at the civic group’s latest meeting.
The jewelry store has served the community with respect and support, Association members said.
“It’s one thing to be a merchant in the community,” said Mitch Udowitch, a representative for Senator Serphin Maltese. “These guys didn’t just open a jewelry store. They’re not just interested in making a profit.”
The owners of the store, Dennis Croce and Jerry Aksalic, accepted honors from the Richmond Hill South Civic Association, as well as the offices of Maltese, Assemblymember Anthony Seminerio, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and Councilmember Joseph Addabbo, who attended the meeting to commend the businessmen and to install the civic group’s officers.
“They’re a good model for businesses,” Addabbo said of Croce and Aksalic. “They have stood the test of time.”
Croce’s uncle, Michael, opened the first Marlowe Jewelers store on Liberty Avenue in 1952. Thirty years later, his nephew and Aksalic took ownership of the store, Croce said. The pair opened the second store in Howard Beach about a decade ago.
“It’s an honor,” Croce said. “We didn’t expect anything like this. It’s a great feeling.”
He added that the key to the store’s success is “treating everyone fairly with honesty and integrity. It’s a family business where we try to make our customers friends.”
Marlowe Jewelers is the third store to be honored by the Richmond Hill South Civic Association. Molbegott True Value Hardware and C. Verdino & Sons, Inc. Garden Center and Florist received the first two awards, respectively.
“This is a small way to award and congratulate them,” said Margaret Finnerty, the civic group’s president. “It’s not strangers we’re honoring, it’s people we know.”
Finnerty was once again installed as president — this will be her 15th year serving as the civic group’s leader. Nine others were installed into other positions. “It’s a lot to run a civic, I can’t do it alone,” Finnerty said.