10 RETAILER HALL OF FAME 2018 I t’s amazing when you think about it: What was supposed to be a temporary visit to the United States led to the start of a jewelry store that put down roots, expanded, and is still a part of its community four decades later. That’s how it was for Dror and Helene Zadok, and their store, Zadok Jewelers. The couple had been living in Israel.TheY om KippurWar had Helene’s mother worrying about her daughter and her family. So to ease her mind, Dror, Helene and their son (the first of three), went to Hous- ton, where they had family, and expected to be there for just a few years. Because Dror’s family had been in the jewelry business for gener- ations, the twosome went with what was familiar and opened Zadok Jewelers in 1976. Though Helene says they “started out with more guts than brains,” clearly they had some idea what they were doing. The store found itself in the black in the first year. Combine good results with a Houston community that was welcoming, and the Zadok family found it hard to leave. A FAMILY AFFAIR Today, Zadok Jewelers is still in its original location. It started out at approximately 1,200 square feet, but since has undergone a num- ber of expansions and now spreads out more than 12,000 square feet. The decision to expand the store rather than open additional loca- tions was a conscious, thought-out one, Helene tells National Jeweler. “We prefer it this way,” she says. “We’re full service. It’s all under one roof.” SHARED VALUES When the Zadoks moved to Houston from Israel, they were warmly welcomed. They’ve repaid that kindness by putting customer service, integrity and honesty before the sale. BY BRECKEN BRANSTRATOR R E T A ILER HALL OF F A M E SINGLE-STORE INDEPENDENT INDUCTEE 2018 DROR & HELENE ZADOK Helene and Dror Zadok opened Zadok Jewelers in 1976 when they were visiting family in Houston.