UPDATED May 15, 2022
Shreve & Co.[1] (known simply as Shreve’s) is the oldest commercial establishment in San Francisco, and the oldest jewelry store in California. It was established in 1852 by goldsmith George Shreve and his nephew Samuel, who moved to the City from New York. In 1887 it became one of only two storefronts in the United States to represent Patek Philippe. In 1894 George’s son took over the company and it was soon considered among the finest silversmiths and goldsmiths in the United States. A factory was built on the 3rd floor of 11 Stevenson in SoMa. One of the store’s earliest commissions was a ten inch tall solid gold teddy bear that was presented to President Teddy Roosevelt when he visited the City in 1905. Originally located at 110 Montgomery, Shreve’s moved to Market Street[2], then built a ten story building at the corner of Post and Grant. Known as the Shreve Building, 210 Post is a steel, glass and sandstone office building where Shreve’s occupied the first two floors and the basement. The first floor displayed fine jewelry, watches and silver flatwear and tea sets. A private elevator took customers to the second floor where crystal, fine china and art objects were sold.
The 1906 Earthquake[3] struck a month after Shreve’s moved into their new location. The building sustained very little damage, though all the glasswear and fine china on the second floor was broken. Seeing that a fire was engulfing the Mission[4] and headed downtown, employees risked their lives getting all the gold, silver, jewelry and time pieces into a fireproof vault in the basement. The building was eventually ravaged by fire. A Shreve’s employee stood guard outside the store for three weeks until the vault was finally cool enough to open. Remarkably, everything inside the vault remained undamaged. Shreve’s moved to Oakland for two years while repairs were made to the Shreve Building, returning in 1909.
During World War I, Shreve’s allowed the US military to take over their building to produce Army supplies. Shreve’s silversmiths made airplane parts. The store returned to the production of high end items in 1918. By 1921, at the height of its success, there were over 600 employees.
Shreve’s was ultimately sold and then acquired several times. The Shreve Building was sold to a private investor, though the store was allowed to remain in the building. In 1992 Shreve’s was bought out of bankruptcy by the Schiffman Group of North Carolina. Tony and Lane Schiffman are co-owners of a jewelry store founded by their great grandfather in 1893. They reduced Shreve’s focus to just fine jewelry and time peices. In 2015 they lost their lease at 210 Post, which was taken over by Harry Winston, a luxury watch competitor. Shreve’s is now located three doors down from their old location in a two-floor space that is three times the size of their previous store. High-end time pieces are sold on the first floor: fine jewelry on the second[5].
[1] Visit their site at www.shreve.com
[2] Market Street: story coming July 26th [3] 1906 Earthquake and Fires: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=2849 [4] The Mission: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=3831 [5] For a more in-depth look at the company, I recommend Annie Wilson’s The Door Stays Open podcast, episodes 11 and 12.
