After serving the Avon Lake community for more than 20 years, Peter & Co. Jewelers has gained national recognition as one of the coolest stores in the country.

Peter & Co. Jewelers earned an honorable mention in the INSTORE Magazine Coolest Store award. INSTORE is a national magazine focusing on the jewelry industry. Peter & Co. Jewelers is the only jewelry store in the Cleveland area to earn a spot on the list.

Store owner Theresia Oreskovic said this is the first time the store has received such recognition.

“We are very excited about this award, especially since we were competing with stores all over the country,” she said. “Since we moved and opened a new store last November, we’re certainly thrilled that our choices and hard work earned recognition on the list.”

To make the list as a Coolest Store for 2011, applicants had to supply images of their store, examples of outstanding customer service, what is cool about their store, out-of-box marketing examples and fun facts, as well as a biography of the store.

Among the items Peter & Co. supplied was an account of helping a soldier in Iraq find the perfect engagement ring from 6,000 miles away.

“He communicated through his mom. She was his eyes on this end,” Oreskovic explained. “My daughter, Tammy Geraci, eventually got his email address, and they emailed back and forth about the style of the ring and his budget, whenever he could get to a computer. This took place over a span of a number of months.”

The bride-to-be was also in the military, Oreskovic said. The couple planned to take a leave from the service together in some exotic part of the world, and that is when the soldier wanted to propose. “We had to ship to a military facility,” Oreskovic said. “Because we ship such valuable items, we’re always learning something new about shipping and insurance.”

“It’s this part of our business, the wedding plans and bridal aspect, that makes it so interesting and rewarding,” she noted. Oreskovic said the soldier is now home from Iraq, and has been in the store to purchase items for his wife.

Last Valentine’s Day, Peter & Co. employees handed out free gifts to strangers on the street as a random act of kindness.

“It was our way to give back a little bit. We really appreciate the community,” Oreskovic said. “We went around town to Giant Eagle, the post office, dry cleaner, a coffee shop, and randomly gave people a gift.”

She said they packaged gift items they carry in the store, like little pearl bracelets, sparkly beads and sterling silver necklaces and gift wrapped them in red paper.

“We have fun,” she said. “We’re all women here, and all different ages. We always try to think of a way to do things that are a little different.”

Located at 32020 Walker Rd., Peter & Co. Jewelers carries a diverse selection of fine jewelry, custom designs and quality diamonds, and is a member of the American Gem Society, a designation earned by less than 5 percent of retail jewelers in the country.