Gerald Peters: Celebrating 25 Years of Membership
Gerald Peters, one of Staten Island’s only luxury jewelers, has an extensive history throughout New York City, beginning in Brooklyn and eventually making its way to Staten Island. Gerald (Jerry) Amerosi Sr., founder and owner of Gerald Peters, dipped his hand in the jewelry business in 1982 and quickly found his passion, becoming one of the most renowned names in high-end jewelry.
Jerry was first introduced to the world of jewelry in the early 1980s, when his best friend’s boss taught him how to buy and sell gold. Shortly after, Jerry began buying and selling gold for Telco, a chain of multi-purpose department stores located in the New York metropolitan area. In 1982, after doing more research on the industry, Jerry decided to open his own store, Goldmine, in Caesar’s Bay Bazaar, a popular shopping center located off the Belt Parkway in Bensonhurst.
Goldmine immediately took off, attracting a wide variety of customers from all over Brooklyn who traveled for Jerry’s jewelry expertise, friendly demeanor, and boisterous laugh. Quickly outgrowing the Caesar’s Bay location, Jerry moved to a freestanding storefront on 18th Avenue in 1991, and he renamed the business Gerald Peters Goldmine in honor of his two sons, Gerald and Peter.
As Gerald Peters Goldmine flourished in Brooklyn, Jerry began thinking about opening a second location to meet client demand. Realizing that much of his clientele was moving to Staten Island, Jerry decided to open his second store in the Staten Island Mall. The second location, also named Gerald Peters Goldmine, officially opened in 1996, occupying a unique corner storefront on the first floor of the mall.
Gerald and Peter Amerosi both grew up in the jewelry world, watching their father and learning from him as time went on. They both started to get involved in the business in their teens, working part-time and on holiday breaks, deepening their love for jewelry. Even as the brothers went on to college and obtained bachelor’s degrees, Gerald in Business Administration and Peter in Entrepreneurship, they found themselves gravitating back toward Gerald Peters Goldmine.
“Peter and I have always been involved, but we both came on full-time after graduating from college,” says Gerald Jr., co-Vice President of Gerald Peters. “Once we came on full-time, we really pushed to take the business to the next level. We helped transition through the closing of the Brooklyn location in 2008, the opening of the Pandora store, and the re-branding of Gerald Peters Goldmine in 2015, when we changed the name to Gerald Peters and moved to the second floor of the mall. We’re constantly growing the Gerald Peters experience.”
With Jerry, Gerald, and Peter working together, Gerald Peters began to boom. Upon moving into an exponentially larger space in 2015, Gerald Peters also began introducing higher-end brands, including Rolex, which is exclusively sold on Staten Island at Gerald Peters. As a team, the Amerosis created a comfortable, luxurious experience for clients. Gerald Peters currently houses the largest bridal jewelry selection on Staten Island and showcases a wide variety of fashion jewelry for men, women, and children at all price points. Gerald Peters has grown with celebrity and professional athlete clients around the country, which is a credit to their emphasis on trust and reputation.
Recently, the trio announced that Gerald Peters will be moving from the Staten Island Mall to 1461 Richmond Road, a two-story building with an accessible rooftop. The new location will include private viewing and selling rooms, a full repair center with an onsite jeweler, a Rolex service center, a bar, a coffee bar, and a rooftop lounge.
In addition to being known for his exquisite eye for jewelry, Jerry Amerosi is also renowned for being an incredible advocate for the community, donating both his time and money to countless organizations on Staten Island. For the Amerosis, giving back is second nature.
“We still have our first employee; she celebrated 42 years this year,” emphasizes Gerald. “It’s all a credit to my dad and how he has treated people over the years. Everyone who works here is part of our extended family. He doesn’t talk about his generosity or how much he does for Staten Island because he doesn’t even think about it, its just something that’s instilled in him as a person.”
This year, Gerald Peters is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. Jerry joined the Chamber in 1999, just three years after opening in the Staten Island Mall, wanting to get involved in the business community as early as possible. Since becoming a member, Gerald Peters has been invaluable to the Chamber. Over the years, Jerry has served on various Chamber committees and on the Board of Directors, and he currently co-Chairs the Chamber’s Safety and Security Committee, which is responsible for selecting honorees for the annual Police Officer and Fire Fighter of the Year events. Additionally, Gerald has served as co-Chair of the Chamber’s Young Professionals Group and as a member of Business Guild II.
“We originally joined the Chamber to become even more immersed in the community and meet like-minded business owners,” says Gerald. “As you get more involved, you realize how crucial the Chamber is in growing your business. We’ve made so many connections through the Chamber, and its such a great resource to have.”
