Bay Street Jewelers
A Tale as Old as Time
story by MEGAN THIBAULT MORRIS photos by CHARLOTTE BERKELEY
Walking down Bay Street, in the heart of Beaufort’s historic downtown, you may notice a unique clock in the middle of the walkway across from West Street. This clock has a story to tell. It was from The Peoples Bank, an early Beaufort institution from 1903-1974, but when the bank closed, the clock was removed. In true small-town fashion, where tradition is celebrated among the excitement for growth and opportunity, Beaufort reclaimed the old clock decades later and installed it as a reminder of days gone by. The celebration for the return of the clock brought proper pomp and circumstance. Beaufort has always been a town that cherishes its history while simultaneously looking forward to the future. Along with the natural beauty, that is one of the leading reasons Beaufort is such a wonderful place to live.
That opinion is held by the proud Beaufort couple who own a small business right next to that old clock. Every day as they open and close their beloved fine jewelry store, Mark and Terri Stokes walk past The Peoples Bank clock and into the front door of their historic shop with its beautiful wood floors and century of Beaufort history. They do not mind that those wood floors creak a bit. They have a story to tell too.
Originally built during the Reconstruction era in the late 1860s, the building that houses Bay Street Jewelers is a midway point for locals and visitors, perusing the main street of town adjacent to the waterfront park. The building itself has been through many momentous occasions in an ever-evolving town over the past century. Bay Street transformed from a dirt road to a paved road. Shops and restaurants were built alongside, a swing bridge was installed, and downtown Beaufort became one of the most charming small towns in the country.
“As we watch the people walk up and down Bay Street from our store, it reminds us of a Norman Rockwell painting,” says Mark Stokes. “People are smiling and chatting, carrying shopping bags and ice cream cones. It’s all generations, from near and far, enjoying this beautiful town. Bay Street is a remarkable place to be.”
The Stokes can also recall a fair share of changes in their decades of business ownership. Before they purchased the shop in 1991, it was called Fox Jewelers, and the current location of 902 Bay Street was its third location along Bay Street. Fox Jewelers first opened in 1941 during World War II. This building was next to Harvey’s Barber Shop that opened a few years earlier in 1937. This now makes the jewelry store eighty years old — a noteworthy benchmark.
The Stokes are proud to celebrate Bay Street Jewelers reaching a milestone of eight decades, and that it is recognized as a Beaufort institution. Family-owned businesses lasting for generations is not only a jewelry store tradition but also a Beaufort tradition. In the 1980s, they managed the Fox Jewelry store and then bought the business from the Fox family in 1991. The team at Bay Street Jewelers has helped many Beaufortonians create memories. After all, it’s usually a special occasion when fine jewelry is involved.
Their passion for helping people pick out a unique gift to benchmark moments in their personal lives is not taken lightly. The Stokes and their team often play an important role in suggesting the perfect piece of jewelry, figuring out the best way to pull off a surprise, or planning the proposal of their dreams. And they love when customers return, some from just down the street and some from hundreds of miles away, to let them know how they are doing and how their story continued. The loyal team at Bay Street Jewelers carries a daily mantra of a famous Pat Conroy saying, “Tell me your stories.”
Mark and Terri Stokes, who married a few years before buying the jewelry store, work together every day while maintaining a loving marriage at home, which they would not have any other way. They do their best not to “bring business home” in the evenings. Each day, he is the gemologist, spending his expertise and attention on the beautiful stones that are under his care for repair and design. She is the business graduate who runs the operations side of the business. They are a perfect pair.
They met as young adults in Sumter, South Carolina, through their love for shag dancing. By that point, Mark had served as an apprentice at a family-owned fine jewelry store, which sent him to college at the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica to earn his Graduate Gemologist degree. Though he did not know it at the time, his position at the Sumter jewelry store was previously held by his future brother-in-law. His dedication to learning the ins and outs of the jewelry industry never quavered. After gaining proper certifications and working a few years in Sumter, a connection with the Fox family of Beaufort at a Jewelers Educational Conference led him to the Lowcountry.
Terri encouraged Mark to relocate, which was the best decision either of them ever made. Once he moved to Beaufort County, Mark knew more than ever that having Terri as his wife was the next step. And while his career is full of stories about helping create elaborate proposals for others, on the way to spend a weekend with Terri in Myrtle Beach, his excitement got the best of him. He pulled over on the road by an old country store and spontaneously popped the question. He purchased the beautiful, oval diamond months before proposing because ever since he first saw Terri, he knew she was the one. And she said, “Yes!”
Ever since that moment, the Stokes have been inseparable. They made the Lowcountry their home by owning a business and raising a son, who now has given them the gift of grandchildren. They are active in their church and several civic organizations locally, including the Chamber of Commerce, Lowcountry Rotary, Beaufort Charities, and now, Pat Conroy Literary Center. Mark even made Terri one of the earliest “Free Little Libraries” to post in their neighborhood and encourage young children to read. They love to give back and support others, just as the Beaufort community has supported them throughout the years.
You can visit Mark and Terri at Bay Street Jewelers and enjoy perusing the beautiful assortment of fine products. The shop is certified by AGS, which stands for American Gem Society. That is an honorable distinction because Mark must be tested annually to maintain his Certified Graduate Gemologist title, and it is based on the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and education in the jewelry industry.
“We couldn’t have chosen a better place to live and work and spend our lives,” says Terri with a heartfelt smile.
And at the end of the day, that is what is important – to live a happy life. The name of the store may have changed. The building it is in may have changed, and the owners may have changed. But, along the way, the story of the Stokes family and Bay Street Jewelers has come to light and created a facet of Beaufort history, eighty years strong and many more to go. It is always remarkable how Beaufort’s people and history are intertwined. And … The Peoples Bank clock is still ticking for this tale as old as time.
More About The Clock’s Return To Beaufort:
“In the early 1990s, James G. Thomas bequeathed $1000 for a clock to be placed on Bay Street. I was with Main Street Beaufort then and tasked with the project. Through community recollections, we were fortunate to locate the old Peoples Bank clock, which had been mounted on The Peoples Bank building near Carteret Street. The clock had been restored in a vacant building in Port Royal, which is now Nuances. Within six months, Main Street raised $13,000 to restore and maintain the clock and have it mounted where it is today. We were fortunate to find a master clock specialist in Sumter, who was 80 years old and remembered working on the clock in its original location. Architect Jim Thomas, son of James G. Thomas, designed the pole it is mounted on. City staff installed the clock and still maintains it today. Main Street later raised additional funds to add the Westminster Chimes. When my husband and I returned to Beaufort in 2017, I was happy to see it had become a focal point of town – just as Mr. Thomas and his family envisioned!” -Lise Sundrla, Historic Beaufort Foundation
