In 1832 William Kendrick founded a jewelry firm.  By the 1880’s his sons, William C. Kendrick and George Kendrick, had joined the firm and the name was changed to William Kendrick and Sons.        

 

     

      Kendrick Jewelers at 320 West Chestnut
in the Old Strand Theatre Bldg.  Mid 1950's

 

William Kendrick and Sons grew to a business handling diamonds, fine jewelry, watches, silver, giftware and art.  In 1930 the store experienced the effects of the GREAT DEPRESSION and closed.  However, it reopened in 1932 under the ownership of William P. Kendrick, grandson of the founder.  It later moved to the 600 block of South Fourth Street.

 

 

                                                                       

 

During the 1920’s Joseph C. Merkley of Jasper, Indiana became involved in the jewelry trade, studied in St. Louis and moved to Louisville.  In the 1930s he began working in the store of Elmer L. Gray, soon forming a partnership.  In the 1940s the E. L. Gray store became Gray and Merkley Jewelers, eventually moving from Eighteenth and Oak Streets into the Southland Terrace Shopping Center.  In 1959 Merkley’ sons, William and Donald, opened the Gray and Merkley Jewelers in St. Matthews.  In 1966 Gray and Merkley merged with the Kendrick store and took the name Merkley and Kendrick Jewelers.

 

 

                                                                                      

In 1971 the downtown and Southland Terrace stores combined and moved to Chenoweth Lane in St. Matthews.  In July 1992 the partnership between Bill and Don Merkley was dissolved and Bill and his wife, Carolyn, became sole owners of Merkley Kendrick Jewelers.   Two of their four children joined the business.  Nanette Merkley Vale joined the business in 1988 and Brian S. Merkley in 1996.  In 2006 Brian took over ownership of the business.