PITTSBURG, Kan. — At age 86, Martin “Bud” Benelli Jr., owner of Bud’s Jewelry, is still dedicated to continuing his family’s work.
One of his main skills is repairing clocks, a talent that Bud says can’t be taught.
“You gotta have the gift,” he said. “And I had it.”
Bud repairs roughly 50 clocks a year, including grandfather clocks. He also replaces batteries in watches and sells jewelry in his shop at 701 N Broadway Street.
Bud’s Jewelry was started in 1949 by his father, Martin Sr., at 720 N. Broadway. At the time, Bud was 9 years old and started working in the shop after school.
“My dad opened up in ‘49 and I said I wanted to go out for track. He said, ‘Your track is going to be how fast you get from the school to the store.’” Bud said.
While working in the store, he discovered he could repair clocks just by taking them apart and learning the mechanics behind it by himself. Handling jewelry and watches was already in his blood as his grandfather was the first person to open a jewelry store in Frontenac, Bud said.
His grandfather, D.P. Benelli, immigrated to the U.S. from Italy when he was 10 years old. He worked in the mines until he broke his leg and then opened D.P. Benelli’s Jewelry Store in 1903. Bud said D.P. sold the business in 1909 and left Frontenac when the mafia asked him to launder money for them.
D.P. opened Benelli’s Jewelry & Optometry in 1914 in Pittsburg at 217 N. Broadway then later moved it to 311 N. Broadway, according to Bud.
Bud took ownership of Bud’s Jewelry after his father died. In 2011, a fire on the 700 block of Broadway destroyed the store, but he was able to move his business to 701 N. Broadway.
A major aspect that Bud takes pride in is his honesty when it comes to his customers. A few weeks ago, a couple came in and purchased a ring. When Bud was resizing it, he discovered the ring wasn’t gold. Because he charged the couple for a gold ring, he called them and said he would refund them the difference. The couple was so grateful for his honesty, they bought another ring to show their appreciation.
Bud said he plans to keep the shop running until he absolutely can’t do it anymore and that having a job to do is keeping him going. That’s the secret to staying sharp, he said.
“No matter what your age is, you can't quit moving,” he said. “And you keep stuff to keep your mind sharp.”
To keep himself young, Bud takes trips on his motorcycle, an ST Honda 1300, with his friend Bob, an endeavor they started four years ago.
Their first trip was New Mexico then the following year they traveled to Colorado. Two years ago, they drove to Tennessee. On that trip home, Bud said they drove 700 miles in one day. Last year, they traveled to South Dakota.
“I don't know where we're gonna go this year, if we go, but I still want to ride as long as I can,” Bud said.
Bud’s wife, who died nine years ago, always knew motorcycles were his second love. Peggy and Martin were married for 53 years.
Running his business allows him to keep up to date on all the latest gossip and happenings around Pittsburg, he said. Seeing the city change and grow has been interesting to witness as he remembers when there was nothing but fields north of 20th Street he said.
Besides operating Bud’s Jewelry, Bud keeps busy with his children and grandchildren and other activities. But his favorite part of his work is chatting with people.
“I like to talk with people,” he said. “But if nobody comes in the whole day, as long as I got work to do, I'm happy.”
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
