When Jim passed away, everything stopped. We were in the middle of planning our biggest leap forward—our new showroom was just beginning construction—and suddenly the person who led every decision, who had always been the guidepost, was gone. Jim wasn’t just our founder. He was our dad, our husband, our rock. He had the vision, the instinct, and the voice of calm we leaned on every day.

“I didn’t want to fail,” he later admitted. “Not for the company, but for my dad, for my mom, and for everyone who helped build J.R. Dunn into what it is today.”

In the early days following Jim’s passing, Ann Marie’s presence was everything. She anchored the business with quiet strength, showed up for the team, and refused to let the wheels stop turning—even as Sean took time to grieve and gather himself after the loss. “We were the three musketeers,” she said. “And suddenly, it was just me. Our clients still needed to see a Dunn in the store.” So she showed up—every single day.

As Ann Marie led the store with unwavering grace, Sean took time to come to terms with Jim’s loss. He hadn’t planned to step into this role yet, and the idea of leading the company—especially through a buildout this size—was overwhelming.

But something shifted in him. Maybe it was the fear of letting everything his parents built slip away. Maybe it was duty. Whatever it was, Sean got up. He got focused. He made hard personal changes, put down the Scotch, prioritized his health, and went ALL IN on the business.

He stepped in fully, leading the team through the next phase of construction. He brought in his wife, Viviana, to guide the design aesthetic—a move that brought a fresh, elegant vision to the space while preserving the warmth that’s always defined J.R. Dunn. Together, they blended timeless beauty with modern sophistication.

As we open the doors to our new showroom, it’s truly more than just a new space—it’s the realization of a dream that began decades ago. With deep gratitude and love, Sean dedicated the showroom to his parents, Jim and Ann Marie Dunn, the co-founders of J.R. Dunn Jewelers. Every detail within its walls reflects their values, their vision, and the enduring legacy of family, community, and heart they built together.

Just days before our soft opening, a truck drove through the front of the building in a smash-and-grab attempt. The damage was real—but they didn’t get away with anything of value. We put up a temporary wall and painted a mural that read: “I mean, can you blame them? Robbers: 0. J.R. Dunn: 1.”

J.R. Dunn has always been, at its heart, a family. And today, that sense of family extends through every corner of the showroom. On any given day, Ann Marie will be there to greet you with her warm hello, and you may also see Sean and Viviana’s children, Nico and Briana Dunn, spending time in the store as they begin to find their own place in the business. The next generation is already quietly becoming part of the legacy—watching, learning, and growing into the story that began long before them.