Karen Dillon

Karen writes about the people and places of Smith Mountain Lake in "Shorelines," published bi-weekly.

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It's a recent Saturday morning and even as customers trickle in to Haywood's Jewelers at Westlake Towne Center, looking to make a purchase or get an item repaired, they still have plenty of time to chat.

On this particular day, Haywood's sales associate Loretta Lavanco seems to know many of the customers on a first-name basis and greets each one warmly. As a man comes in to purchase a gift for his wife for Mother's Day, Lavanco praises him for getting an early jump on his shopping.

"I can't tell you how many men come in here at the last minute," she said, helping him select a Pandora charm for his wife's bracelet.

Later, as a woman drops in to have a vintage ring remounted, she and Lavanco share a friendly hug and catch up on the woman's family news.

"It's not just a service we provide; it's a relationship," said Lavanco. "People come in here and talk about whatever it is they want to talk about. I really learn the goodness of people."

The lake store, which opened in August 2004, is an offshoot of Haywood's Jewelers in Rocky Mount, a mainstay of that community since 1953.

Its Web site reads: "We are proud of the relationships we have built through the years and the essential position we have gained in the community. Having formed personal relationships with many area residents, they share their weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, holidays, travels and family stories with us."

One of those relationships eventually transformed into a business partnership. Joanna Hudzik, co-owner of the lake store, began working for Harold Ingram, owner of the Rocky Mount location, while attending Ferrum College in the late 1990s.

"As she was going through college, she continued to work here," recalled Ingram. "She enjoyed the work and was very good at meeting people."

After graduation, Hudzik continued to work at the Rocky Mount store, but Ingram said he couldn't afford to pay what he thought a college graduate should be earning. After giving it some thought, the two decided to join forces and open a second location.

"It had to be a partnership," said Ingram. "She had to have her own personal interest in it for it to work."

Hudzik, who spoke by phone while attending a week-long diamond grading workshop in Houston, said owning her own business has been a wonderful adventure.

"It's the most exciting, most frustrating, most time-consuming thing wrapped up into one," she said. "The personal aspect is what I love. It makes me happy that people come by and visit."

Ingram's daughter, Bernice, also works at the lake store, managing her father's share of the business. Bernice Ingram said she grew up in the company, having worked at the Rocky Mount store "off and on" since she was a kid. Similar to the lake location, Bernice said folks would regularly drop in the Rocky Mount store to visit.

"Neighbors are meeting neighbors there," said Hudzik. "We have a lot of clients who stop by and say 'hi.' It's a friendly environment."

Both Harold Ingram and Hudzik agreed that being integrated into the area is essential to their success.

"We've tried to be a part of the community and support the community and not just be a retail business," said Hudzik, who also serves on the board of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Smith Mountain Lake Lions Club and the Rocky Mount Rotary Club.

"That's really what we've built the business on. That's what's so important to us."

Haywood's Jewelers is located at Westlake Towne Center (721-2210) and at 346 Franklin St. in Rocky Mount (483-5191).