At the corner of Main Street and the Arbor Lakes Parkway in Maple Grove, Kelly Sternau embarks on a new adventure.
“We have artisans from all over the world that I know personally and have connections with,” said Stirnau, CEO and Creative Director of Croft & Stern Jewelry Designs.
For the past 11 years, I’ve worked in this building alongside Marc Lauer as a custom jewelry designer, when the store was called Mark Michael Diamond Designs.
But after Lauer retired last spring, Sternau took over and made the business her own.
“It’s something I didn’t want this area to lose,” she said. “I’ve worked hard to continue this space and maintain this presence for people in Maple Grove and everywhere.”
Kelly Sternau is the CEO and Creative Director of Croft & Stern Jewelry Designs.
A destination for special occasions
The business is now called Croft & Stern Jewelry Designs. There is an emphasis on the “design” part of this name.
Yes, the store has a ton of ready-to-wear items, but Sternau’s goal is to make this store a destination for anyone looking for something different.
“My goal as a designer is to always try to push the boundaries of what’s possible, what we can build, and what we can do,” she said.
Sternau and her team have all the tools on site – along with years of experience – to design and manufacture jewelry.
“What we’re doing here is building these designs in 3D space,” Sternau said, showing an image in computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Whether you want a new piece for a wedding, or if you want to give a second life to an old family heirloom, Sternau and her team help clients through the entire process.
“Going through this journey with them not only gives me a sense of accomplishment as an artisan, but I also feel like I’m helping them on their journey of understanding themselves and being able to know what they really want and I feel really proud of it,” Stirnau said of her time helping clients design a piece. role in making something.”
Croft & Stern celebrated its official grand opening earlier this month, but the hope is that the store will be a staple in Maple Grove for years to come.
“We really want to continue this presence, being a jewelry center, but on a high street basis,” said Stirnau.
Croft & Stern Jewelry Designs is located at 7897 Main Street N in Maple Grove.
Related: Closing Maple Grove Jewelry Store, Retiring After Over 50 Years in Business
Maple Grove
Business matters