HistoryView
Longtime Downtown Business Gem
By Harrison Power
Since the days of Downtown Modesto being the bustling center of commerce and the community, we have seen numerous shops and restaurants over the years have to contemplate moving to another location or closing altogether. The demolition of historic homes to business fronts was one reason, city growth and opening of the mall being another. Because of this, there is a decreasing number of businesses and tenants who can truly claim a longtime standing serving customers downtown – among them is Cavanna’s Jewelry, which has provided Modestans with watch repair and jewelry expertise for over 100 years. Moreover, this downtown icon has been a Cavanna family tradition.
If you stop in Cavanna’s Jewelry today at 1014 J Street in the first floor of the beautiful Beaty Building, you will be warmly greeted by Norman Cavanna ready to assist you with repairs or questions however he can. The family background in watch repair and jewelry began with Norman’s father, Cesar Cavanna. An immigrant from Italy, Cesar Cavanna opened his first watch repair shop in the early 1900’s at 1010 H Street after moving to Modesto. His specialization was in “high grade Swiss and complicated watch repairing” as highlighted regularly in the Modesto News-Herald. Norman Cavanna was born in 1935, and ultimately followed in his father’s footsteps studying watchmaking in Oakland and learning the latest fine watch and jewelry techniques. It was when his father retired that Norman carried on the family name and business – in 1964 he and his wife Mollie opened a new Cavanna’s Jewelry at 1019 J Street. That address, of course, being located in the Hotel Covell, and where Cavanna’s called home for 28 years.
When the City of Modesto deemed the historic building unsafe amid announcement of the Tenth Street Plaza redevelopment project, and with no solid plan to revitalize the beauty and glory of the hotel, many of its tenants began to leave. According to a 1997 issue of the Modesto Bee, Norman and Mollie Cavanna were the last business tenants of the Hotel Covell to leave. They moved into their present location in the Beaty, across the street from their former storefront. And it is from here now that Norman himself continues providing Modesto with unquestionable passion and knowledge of his craft. My wife and I recently stopped in for a watchband adjustment and to see if there was any hope left in my great-grandfather’s 1965 Bulova Accutron, and Norman even had original tools distributed by Bulova when the Accutron hit store shelves. It may take some time he said, but it was clear he was the man to trust.
If you have never stopped by Cavanna’s with its wonderful windows filled with neon and display cases, pop in next time you see Norman sitting at his repair bench. He can assist with any watch and jewelry repair needs, with likely few curveballs that could be thrown at him. In time for the holiday season coming up, find that beloved heirloom or piece of jewelry that you always wished to bring back to life, and bring it to Cavanna’s Jewelry in the heart of downtown.
Photos
Norman Cavanna, 1995.
Holiday ad, 1981 (used prior years as well).
Advertisement, 1977
