Hurdle's Jewelry

In 1947, Nicole Hurdle’s great-grandfather opened Hurdle’s Jewelry at 1430 Pearl Street. Chester L. Hurdle had recently moved to Boulder from Missouri at the suggestion of wife, Bernice, who fell in love with the area on a trip to see a concert at Chautauqua Park. The pair took over an existing jewelry store and rebranded it as their own. In 1957, the storefront moved down to 1402 Pearl Street. It has remained there ever since - making it the oldest business still operating on the Pearl Street Mall.

As Hurdle’s Jewelry celebrates its 75th anniversary of operation, it can also celebrate remaining family owned and operated. “After my great-grandfather ran the business, my grandfather took it over and then eventually passed the reins to my father,” said Nicole. “I’m currently learning the ropes of management, which would make me the first female to be in an ownership position. While there is so much rich history to honor within the business, there are also exciting transitions happening as we continue to evolve.”

Growing up, the jewelry business was a natural part of Nicole’s life. “I loved being in the store as a kid and getting the opportunity to clean the glass display cases - it was always so fun. But I never pictured myself going into the jewelry world. After graduating from CU Boulder with a degree in business, I worked for a while in a variety of roles and spent time with a marketing company. However, when the store was looking for someone to fill in part-time, I decided to try out the industry. I ended up falling in love and have never looked back.”

Earning trust in the jewelry world is extremely important, and Hurdle’s Jewelry has lots of it. “We are so fortunate to have so many dedicated locals that have supported us over the years. People come in looking for engagement rings whose parents and grandparents invested in rings with us, which is so special. We carry a huge variety of designers and styles, so we mean it when we say there is something for everyone here. In addition to our more traditional pieces, we have a huge selection of consignment and vintage jewelry. And with constantly rotating offerings, there is always something new when people walk in.”

There is a reason Hurdle’s Jewelry has remained in downtown Boulder for 75 years. “Boulder has such a uniqueness that differentiates it from all other cities in Colorado. It retains its old charm while continuing to grow and change. It’s always so beautiful - so many days I walk down Pearl Street and think about how it’s such an incredible place to have a business. We are so lucky to be here!”

To support the continued success of Hurdle’s Jewelry, come into the store the next time you are downtown. “Shopping locally is so important. It uplifts our entire community, so visit downtown and look around at all the small businesses. Come into our store and see our variety of options - we’ll even check and clean jewelry for free while you’re in. If you have a jewelry item in need of repair, bring it in - no project or job is too small for us! And be sure to follow us on social media @hurdlesjewelry.”

While Nicole did not grow up picturing herself in the family business, now she can’t imagine doing anything else. Visit this cornerstone within the community and support a family-owned business that has been around for decades the next time you are looking for a unique jewelry piece!