It has been said, A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear but pair it with a really stunning piece of jewelry? Well, NOW you’re ready to really WOW ’em!
What better place to find that certain sparkle than Millstone Jewelers on Main Street in Downtown Elkton. This lovely shop located at 130 E. Main Street is a literal jewelry box in the center of town. It’s enchanting how the sparkle of the chandelier overhead dances off the gemstones in the cases below and what girl doesn’t love her some serious sparkle?
Like the inside of a Jewelry Box.
So let’s get to know the lovely woman who brings such beauty to our fair town…
The Millstone Pendant – Original design by, Alesia Mills
Alesia Mills is the owner and operator of Millstone Jewelers. Can you guess where the name ‘Millstone’ is derived? When your last name is Mills and you find Millstones rather intriguing, it isn’t difficult to arrive on a name for your business. In fact, Alesia has a pendant style of her own design representing a lovely Millstone.
Originally located in Oxford, PA. the business got its start in 2013. On October 12, 2018 Alesia opened the Elkton location ultimately closing the Oxford shop and making Elkton the full-time home of Millstone Jewelers. The Elkton community was delighted to have a jewelry store back on Main Street.
Alesia says her favorite part of owning her own business is, “Being able to create, design, and sell my own jewelry.” She says she loves hearing all of the customer’s stories. “Whether they are getting a sentimental piece fixed or getting engaged, it really is amazing knowing I could help be a part of something they will have forever.” When asked what is the BEST part of her business day, Alesia answered: “When a customer leaves with a smile on their face. Whether they found a beautiful piece of new jewelry or got an old piece repaired nothing is better than seeing someone happy with our service.” You know, that’s really the beauty of supporting a small business… The transactions are personal. The customer receives quality service from a knowledgable merchant and can feel proud knowing the money they spent directly supports the owner and their family and ultimately goes right back into their community. It’s also satisfying to know you’re dealing with a professional like Alesia, who has been in the jewelry industry for over thirty years and still enjoys creating and designing unique pieces.
Speaking of family, Alesia Mills is a mother of four, one girl and three boys. If you’ve visited Millstone Jewelers you might have met two of them… Kaitlyn and Beau both work and/or have worked for their mom. Alesia also has two grandchildren that are in the store daily. How lucky is the Grandmother who get’s to be so close to her family while earning a living! When Alesia isn’t busy with customers or grandbabies, she says she enjoys traveling and hunting for sea glass.
When asked if Alesia had any favorite customers stories to share she responded with: “We have so many stories! One story just recently was both sad and beautiful. A woman came in with a wedding band that was her husband’s. He had just passed away and she wanted to have something made out of it. I took the ring and made it into a heart. She would wear it near her
heart, where he would always be. She was beyond happy with it. She started crying and was just so thankful to be able to have something of his to wear every day. It was a great feeling to give her exactly what she wanted.” What a lovely testament of the sensitivity to a customers needs.
Millstone Jewelers also believes in giving back to the community through philanthropic opportunities such as the recent ‘Little Black Dress Event’ to benefit the Cecil College Foundation. We cherish the businesses who value the impact they can make in their community. Giving is wonderful but receiving is pretty sweet too and that brings us to the question of what a small business owner wishes they could have to make their business better? To that Alesia answered, “Eventually (I) would like to get a laser welder. It would make doing repairs much easier and faster!” We hope she is able to realize that dream in the not too distant future.
It’s interesting to note what the personal favorite sales item might be for a local merchant. For Alesia she said, “It’s hard to choose; of course I love all the pieces I create. I also love jewelry with rubies, as red is my favorite color.” Red is also the color of Love which seems perfectly fitting for the jewelry business. The gift of a necklace, pendant, cufflinks or ring is customarily a very fitting way of saying, ‘I Love You’.
Many thanks to Alesia Mills of Millstone Jewelers for adding so much Sparkle, not only to the lives of her customers but also to Elkton’s Main Street.
