H.L.
Gross & Bro. was founded in 1910 by the great grandfather of Michael Gross,
the current President of H.L. Gross & Bro. He opened it along with his two
sons then 15 & 19 years of age. He passed away four years later leaving
the two brothers with all the responsibilities of running the new store.
The first store was located in Brooklyn New York six blocks from a jewelry store
owned by their uncle. The brothers displayed jewelry on a board supported by
two sugar barrels. If a customer requested an item they did not have they would
tell them to wait a minute. One brother would engage the customer in conversation
while the other would walk into the store and immediately exit out the back
door to the Uncles store and run back with the item.
By the mid 1920's they opened a store in Jamaica and shortly thereafter moved
further out on Long Island to Hempstead. By the late 60's the business was being
run by Howard Gross, the third generation. At this time they were doing their
own diamond cutting in the Hempstead store and averaging a dozen diamond engagement
ring sales a day.
In 1969 Howard Gross and his wife Helene opened the Garden City store which
is the present location of H.L. Gross & Bro. Howard's son Michael Gross
graduated college in 1971 and joined his father to become the fourth generation
to enter the business. Michael is a member of the Rotary, serves on the Board
of Directors of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and was honored by the Nassau
Council Chambers of Commerce as 16th annual small business person of the year.
In 2001 Michael's son Brad entered into the business. He is the fifth generation
to follow the family tradition of H.L. Gross & Bro. Jewelers.
