Sylvan’s Jewelers announces new offerings at Vista location in historic move
August 4, 2025
After over 100 years on Main Street, the jeweler will move to the historic South Carolina Railroad Depot building at 740 Gervais Street in the Vista
Sylvan’s Jewelers is excited to announce new offerings at its new Vista location at the corner of Gadsden and Gervais Streets with plans to open this fall.
As part of this new chapter, Sylvan’s is proud to expand its Rolex presence in Columbia with a beautifully appointed space that showcases the world’s most iconic timepieces. Designed to reflect the excellence and precision of the Rolex brand, this enhanced experience allows clients to explore an even broader selection in an environment that’s as refined as the watches themselves.
Sylvan’s was founded in 1897 by brothers Gustaf (Gus) and Johannes (Joe) Sylvan and has been in its historic Main Street location since 1905. In 1906, the brothers installed a beautiful four-sided clock on the sidewalk in front of the store, now a beloved local landmark that will remain on Main Street. Sylvan’s was acquired by Schiffman’s Jewelers, an independent luxury jeweler based in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1985 and continues to be operated by the fourth generation of jewelers in the Schiffman family today.
Colliers’ Rox Pollard Jr., John Gressette and Rox Pollard III represented Arnold Companies in the lease of the 9,164-square-foot space to Sylvan’s.
“Sylvan’s had outgrown its space on Main Street but very much wanted to find a new home with the same type of historic presence it has had since 1897 and 740 Gervais has these elements,” said Rox Pollard Jr., Vice President | Retail Services at Colliers. “Sylvan’s and Arnold Companies worked collaboratively to create a one-of-a-kind space in the high-profile heart of the Vista district. The new space will allow Sylvan’s to offer a much deeper variety of jewelry to the entire Midlands region. The reuse of this historic space will provide Sylvan’s customers with a location they can enjoy for the next 100 years. Colliers is very proud to have assisted Arnold Companies and Sylvan’s with this lease.”
“The Arnold Companies is proud to welcome Sylvan’s—one of Columbia’s most distinguished and longstanding jewelers—to the entrance of our new Vista Depot District,” said Ben Arnold, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arnold Family Corporation. “With a legacy of craftsmanship, elegance and excellence, Sylvan’s embodies the very spirit of quality we envision for this transformative development. It has been a true pleasure to partner with such an iconic brand, whose presence sets a remarkable standard for the community of businesses joining the district. We’re excited to share more exciting announcements in the near future.”
Project partners for the upfit of Sylvan’s space include Hood Construction and Studio 2LR.
740 Gervais Street (previously 800 Gervais Street) is known as the former South Carolina Railroad Depot building. According to Historic Columbia, it was constructed in 1850 as a railroad depot, and it then served as the Wayside Hospital for sick and injured soldiers during the Civil War. After being burned during the war, it was rebuilt in 1866, continuing to serve in its original transportation capacity for decades. It later housed Wet Willie’s and Jillian’s sports bar and most recently, the Junction 800 event venue.
Currently, the remainder of the 740 Gervais Street property is being marketed as restaurant/retail space for lease by Colliers. For more information, visit the property listing.
About Colliers
Colliers | South Carolina is the largest full-service commercial real estate firm in South Carolina with 66 licensed real estate professionals covering the state with locations in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg. Colliers is an Accredited Management Organization (AMO) through the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and is the largest manager of commercial real estate properties in South Carolina with a portfolio of over 26 million square feet of office, industrial, retail and healthcare properties. Colliers’ staff hold the most professional designations of any firm in South Carolina. Colliers | South Carolina’s partner, LCK, provides project management services for new facilities and renovations across South Carolina.
Colliers is a global diversified professional services and investment management company. Operating through three industry-leading platforms – Real Estate Services, Engineering and Investment Management – we have a proven business model, an enterprising culture and a unique partnership philosophy that drives growth and value creation. With over $5.0 billion in annual revenues, a team of 24,000 professionals, and more than $100 billion in assets under management, Colliers remains committed to accelerating the success of our clients, investors and people worldwide. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com, X @Colliers or LinkedIn
