“It’s an icon in Minot,” said Landon Bahl, who said they are committed to maintaining the tradition of Knowles Jewelry, which has been in business in Minot for 34 years. “When you think of jewelry, you think of Knowles.”

Mother and son, who are both from Minot, are purchasing the jewelry store, which is located in the 20th Avenue Building at 515 20th Avenue SE, No. 4, in Minot, from longtime owners Al and Linda Torrington. Knowles will be open under the ownership of the Bahls by early February.

Jo Bahl, a local realtor and business owner in the community, said she had been a customer long before she became interested in purchasing the business.

“The jewelry I’ve gotten from my husband was purchased at Knowles,” said Jo Bahl.

Submitted Photo Landon Bahl and Jo Bahl, are the new owners of Knowles Jewelry.

Her son, Landon, graduated from the University of North Dakota with majors in entrepreneurship and marketing and has had previous business experience too. He owns Metigoshe Dock and Lift, which sells docks and lifts, and had run his own lawn fertilizer business, which he later sold.

The Bahls have also always been impressed by the high quality of the store as well as by the friendliness of the Torringtons and their staff.

“They know most people’s names when they walk in the door,” said Jo Bahl.

They also had some other personal connections. Al Torrington once taught at Bishop Ryan Catholic School and had Landon Bahl as a student.

The Bahls said they first began talking about the possibility of purchasing the store after they received a mailer about the store’s going out of business sale. They then decided to approach the Torringtons, who are retiring, about buying the business.

The Torringtons have promised to be available to help ease the transition.

The Bahls said that customers should not notice much of a difference in the business.

There will be the same great staff, including two highly skilled goldsmiths and other staff, and high quality jewelry will still be offered for sale. One of their goldsmiths has been with Knowles for 28 years.

The Torringtons have also always believed in strong community involvement, which the Bahls hope to continue.

Al Torrington, who is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and Linda Torrington are honorary squadron commanders for Minot Air Force Base’s 742nd Missile Squadron. The Torringtons also won a Spirit Award from the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Torringtons said they also expect the Bahls will put their own spin on the business, though they might want to wait awhile. Linda Torrington said she advised them “the first year you have to be careful, because the bills have to be paid.”

The Bahls said they would not be able to step in this way without the years of experience of the store employees and their knowledge of the jewelry business. They do not have a background in the jewelry business themselves, said Jo Bahl and Landon Bahl, but neither did the Torringtons when they decided to purchase the business in 2006.

The Torringtons learned the business over the years just as the Bahls will. Al Torrington said there have been changes over the years in the styles that people prefer in their jewelry. He has noticed different trends in the shape, color and mountings that people prefer. The store has also tried to offer jewelry that can fit multiple budgets, for instance selling more sterling silver. They have sold $18 chains all the way up to $10,000 chains. The Torringtons said they never wanted the store to be limited to high end customers, but to have something for everybody.

That tradition will continue under the Bahls.

(Prairie Profile is a weekly feature profiling interesting people in our region. We welcome suggestions from our readers. Call Editor Mike Sasser at 857-1959 or Regional Editor Eloise Ogden at 857-1944. Either can be reached at 1-800-735-3229. You also can send email suggestions to msasser@minotdailynews.com.)