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Jewish Community News
News: January 2004
Jewish couple leaves Wall Street, opens Israeli boutique in San Jose
 |
| Gil and Jenni Luria in front of their Michal Negrin store at Valley Fair |
By Cecily Ruttenberg
When Gil Luria and Jenni Barnum met and began dating at Columbia Business School seven years ago, they had a dream of starting a business together. But like most graduates, they quickly accepted jobs in the corporate business world — he on Wall Street and she at an education technology firm.
"We barely saw each other," said Gil. "We'd work weekends and she was traveling more than half the time."
During their limited time together, the newlyweds would
dream of starting a business together, and spending more time with each
other.
Then one week the pieces all fell into place. On a trip to Israel to visit
Gil's family, the couple was visiting the Michal Negrin store, Jenni's
favorite jewelry spot. Gil remembered he had seen another Michal Negrin
store in Paris and he asked if the store had any franchises in the United
States.
"They gave us a phone number and we called," said Gil. Everything just came together after that. The couple canvassed the top 10 malls in the United States and decided on Valley Fair. Without looking back they packed up their bags and moved across the country from New York to settle down.
The Michal Negrin store has been open in the Valley Fair Mall for nearly two months now and the Lurias say the response has been tremendous. "At least once a day a woman will come in here and be practically in tears, thanking us for opening this store," said Gil.
Gil and Jenni are also looking to join a synagogue and to become more involved in the local Jewish community.
"I'm so proud to be a part of such a nice Israeli export," said Luria. "You don't see enough blue and white here. All people see of Israel is what they see on the news. I'm proud to offer something else."
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