Cleary Jewelers’ Owner Says They Will Stay In Current Main Street Location Until 2028

(Greenfield, MA) In November of 2022, the City of Greenfield announced the former Wilson’s building was being sold and would soon be the new home of Green Field’s Market and 65 mixed-income apartments. Since then, the businesses occupying the street level portion of the building have been left to find new locations. One of these businesses, Cleary Jewelers, has a lease for their storefront for six and a half more years however, according to a public letter from own Cleary’s owner, Kerry Semaski, MassDevelopment is breaking the lease by asking them to relocate this year.

In the June 7th letter, Semaski wrote that attempts to negotiate with MassDevelopment over the past nine weeks had been unsuccessful until this past Monday. Though in finally communicating with MassDevelopment, Semaski noted that MassDevelopment expected to her “incur almost all monies out of pocket to relocate Cleary Jewelers” to a new location in Greenfield off of Main Street that is convenient and safe for customers.

“In short, MassDevelopment is breaking our lease contract and asking us to vacate a lease six and a half years early at our own expense. This is not acceptable. MassDevelopment touts itself as a business-friendly entity suitable for developing downtown economies. So far, their actions convey that their business development plans and projects are more important than existing family-owned businesses, no matter the collateral damage,” wrote the Cleary Jeweler owner.

Franklin County Now reached owner Kerry Semaski by phone Friday afternoon where she made clear her commitment to her customers and the community, and protecting the 95 year old local business. Semaski said negotiations are currently “at an impasse” as she open to “meaningful, realistic negotiations” with MassDevelopment but unless that happens, she will be staying at the current location through the end of the lease in 2028.

Cleary Jewelers remains open at their current Main Street location Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and by appointment.