Volume: 21 Issue: 47 Winter 2023 Special Issue on Syriac Americans

SYRIAC THERAPISTS OF AMERICAN JEWELRY BUYERS

The building in Woodbridge has 36 booths and 90 of the businesses there are ran by Syriacs. Most of the Syriac business owners there are either relatives or from the same town.

The building in Woodbridge has 36 booths and 90 of the businesses there are ran by Syriacs.

Of the 58 jewelry businesses at the Paramus Jewelry Exchange, nearly 80 percent are owned and operated by Syriacs.

Most of the Syriac business owners there are either relatives or from the same town.

Many times, they sell their jewelry to newlyweds, whose parents also purchased their wedding jewelry from them.

TURKOFAMERICA visited the jewelry artisans in New Jersey’s Woodbridge, Wayne, Paramus and Totowa and listened to the life stories of the Syriac craftsmen who changed the service culture in retail in the areas where they operate.

Freddy (Ferit) Cankurt Creates a Life Long Customer

Photo by Koray Kasap

Freddy (Ferit) Cankurt, has been running, for 20 years, the Julianna Jewelry at the Jewelry Exchange on Route 4 in Paramus, NJ. Cankurt was born in Kumkapı in İstanbul. He has 4 brothers and a sister. His family had migrated to İstanbul from Mardin’s Midyat in 1970’s. Throughout his elementary school years, Cankurt worked in a jewelry shop that produced chains. “I have been in this business since I was 6 years old”, he points out.

Of the 58 jewelry businesses at the Paramus Jewelry Exchange, nearly 80 percent are owned and operated by Syriacs.

Thomas (Bülent) Altındağ / A True Biblical Servant

Of the 58 jewelry businesses at the Paramus Jewelry Exchange, nearly 80 percent are owned and operated by Syriacs. Cankurt’s two siblings also have their businesses running at the same exchange center. While one of his other siblings has a shop in Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange, another one is in the jewelry wholesale sector in New York.

51 years old Ercan (John) Çoban is the owner of Romancing the Stone, which is one of the oldest jewelry shops at Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange.

51 years old Ercan (John) Çoban is the owner of Romancing the Stone, which is one of the oldest jewelry shops at Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange. His father was born in Türkiye’s Mardin and his mother was born in Kayseri. When Çoban was in 4th grade, his family migrated to the USA in 1982.

Cebrail Akyön’s sons Özcan (John), Ferit (Freddy) and Kenan (Ken) run the Kent Jewelry at Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange.

The special place of Gabriel (Cebrail) Akyön within the Syriac community is unquestionable. He is deeply respected and viewed as a big brother by everyone, young and old, in the community Cebrail Akyön’s sons Özcan (John), Ferit (Freddy) and Kenan (Ken) run the Kent Jewelry at Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange. Özcan Akyön was born in Bahçelievler, İstanbul in 1975. He attended elementary school in Bahçelievler. He came to the USA in 1991 with his family, along with his uncle. Their family used run jewelry stores, again under the name Kent, in İstanbul’s Beyoğlu and at Grand Bazaar. Kent

“The business working hours make us obligated to come here. And, we cannot leave the place unattended. But thankfully, as the 3 siblings of the family, we cover for each other whenever needed.” Mentioning that their customers are not only from NJ but also from other states, Akyön says, “As long as there is mutual trust, we have people visiting us from North Carolina or even Florida.” When asked about the difference between the jewelry sectors in the USA and in Türkiye, Akyön answers, “It has been quite easy for us to run a jewelry business. Our craftsman perception and culture are different and Americans have also had the opportunity to see that through our work. That is also why they build a bond with us. The attention they get when they visit us has led them to also bring along their family members. Sometimes, even if they don’t purchase anything, we end up serving as a therapist with no cost.”

Bünyamin Alpar: ‘’If We Do Wrong to the Customer, We Lose’’

Alpar Brothers at Madleen Jewelery at Woodbridge Jewelery Exchange

The biggest disadvantage of being together collectively is the competition we experience. We all know each other. Most of us are the same peasants. We all go to the same church. So, we don't have a problem." Almost all of the trades on the Exchange underline caring the customer, the service provided, trust, honesty. "If we do wrong to the customer, we lose. I sold an engagement ring to my client, who came to the first opening of the exchange in 1992 and she is still coming," he says. Although he doesn't go to Turkey often, his parents and son joined a 3-week tour this summer that included Mardin. Alpar's son also works in the shop, but he advised his other children to choose other careers.

Murat Haniken was born in Bahçelievler, İstanbul in 1978.

Maybe one of my kids can do this job without pushing himself too hard. Let him work 40 hours a week, have a job to spend with his family on the weekend. It's a pity for the people who work here. For years, we closed the shop at 9.00pm. (Shops on the Exchange currently close at 7.00pm three days a week, 6.00pm on two days, and 5.00pm on Sunday. It's also closed on Mondays.) He drove home for an hour. During Christmas times, we worked at a busy pace for 40-50 days. When we went home, we didn't feel our legs. We would go home to bed and get up in the morning and come back.