Gerald Peters, a jewelry store located inside the Staten Island Mall, New Springville, won a Crain’s award for family-owned businesses in late June.
Crain’s New York Business, a publication focused on New York City’s major industries, created the Family Business Awards this year to honor family businesses with a unique story.
Of the 83 businesses considered for the award, 15 winners were selected from around the five boroughs. Gerald Peters was the only winner from Staten Island.
“We were completely shocked when we were notified that we had won the award. We had not even applied for it,” said Peter Amerosi, the vice president of the store, before adding that the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce nominated the business.
The store was founded by Gerald Amerosi Sr. in Brooklyn in 1982. It is named after the founder’s two sons, Gerald and Peter.
The jewelry shop opened a new location in the Staten Island Mall in 1996. In 2015, that store tripled its size.
While Gerald Peters has always been a source of luxury brands, within the past year they were approved to be an official Rolex dealer. Amerosi Sr. had been working toward this goal for 20 years, repeatedly writing to the brand in hopes of approval.
Peter Amerosi says that becoming a Rolex dealer is quite prestigious and unique, and he believes that becoming an official dealer helped them win the award.
In addition to Gerald Peters, Amerosi Sr. owns two Pandora jewelry stores, one in the Staten Island Mall and one in Tom’s River, N.J..
All three of the family members involved in the business still live on Staten Island. Gerald Amerosi Sr. lives in Westerleigh, Gerald Amerosi Jr. lives in Rossville, and Peter Amerosi lives in Eltingville.
By Christine DeRosa [Silive]
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