By Evan Triantafilidis
Sentinel Reporter
A historic building on Greenwich Avenue is now the property of Shreve, Crump & Low.
The property at 125 Greenwich Ave. has been purchased by the Boston-based high-end jeweler for $13.5 million. Brian Walker, Shreve’s vice president and creative director, says the company liked the building because of its rich history, which in turn reflects the jeweler’s own storied past.
“Shreve’s history dates back to 1796,” Walker said. “Over the past 200 years, Shreve has really grown into a widespread New England institution. Greenwich is the gateway to New England, but this building is sort of the gateway to Greenwich Avenue.”
The building, originally Putnam Savings Trust bank, was erected in 1925, and Shreve says its style is exactly what the company was looking for. The stately, Doric-columned structure stands at the corner of Greenwich Avenue and Lewis Street.
“It’s just an incredible building, in the sense that it’s completely reminiscent of a time in our country when America was building incredible infrastructure. To be able to preserve that and to house our business within such a building was very important to us. Because of us being so old and such a historic company—that resonates so nicely in New England.”
In the early months of 2014, the company started a full-scale renovation of the first floor, which included expanding the windows facing Greenwich Avenue from four feet wide to ten feet wide.
“All we’ve really tried to do is beautify the building and create a long-lasting home for Shreve, Crump & Low in the Greenwich market,” Walker said.
In 1796 John McFarlane, a watchmaker and silversmith, founded the original shop across the street from Paul Revere’s in Boston. McFarlane’s shop burned down in the Great Boston Fire of 1872. Today, Shreve’s flagship store is on Newberry Street in Boston’s Back Bay.
Shreve, Low & Crump serves as a trophy sponsor for the East Coast Open now in progress at the Greenwich Polo Club and hosted the official event draw party at its newly bought building just before the start of the tournament.
Among its many noteworthy pieces, Shreve, Crump & Low made baseball’s Cy Young Award trophy and tennis’ Davis Cup trophy.
