King’s Jewelers
Clothier
1946-Present
Main Street
Columbia, SC 29201
FAMILIES: Picow
King’s Jewelers (originally King’s Credit Jewelers) was founded in 1946 at 1625 Main Street in Columbia, South Carolina. King’s was founded by brothers Nathan (1924-2021) and Edward Picow (1912-1970) along with Edward’s wife, Sarah Picow (1913-2007), and business partner Michael S. Lavisky (1904-1977). In 1952, the Picows parted ways with Michael Lavisky and not long after that Nathan Picow appears to have assumed sole proprietorship of King’s Jewelers. In the early 1960s, King’s moved to a new location at 1611 Main Street where it still operates today. Around the same time, Nathan opened a second King’s location at 1437 Main Street which remained there until 1982. Nathan operated his business until the age of 95 when the COVID-19 pandemic began, and he passed shortly after at age 96. King’s Jewelers is still family owned and is operated by Nathan’s two sons Ian and Jeffrey.
Main Image: King’s Jewelers storefront on the 1600 block of Main Street, 1978. Courtesy of the Russell Maxey Photograph Collection, Richland Library, Columbia, SC.
Above Image: Cropped image of King’s Jewelers on the 1400 block of Main Street, 1978. Courtesy of the Russell Maxey Photograph Collection, Richland Library, Columbia, SC.
Above Image: Nathan Picow behind the counter at King’s Jewelers, 1954. Reprinted from The State, November 28, 1954.
Above Image: Advertisement for King’s Jewelers Christmas sale, 1947. Reprinted from The State, December 4, 1947.