About - History

In 1947, William and Lillian Quenan opened a jewelry store in the small town of Bastrop, Louisiana. Bill and Lill became known for their charm and friendliness. Their warm welcome made each customer feel special. With hands-on service, they helped the people of Bastrop find the perfect jewelry for the special events in their lives.

While growing up, Bill and Lill’s four children spent a lot of time in Quenan’s Jewelers. Their son Steve developed an eye for exquisite design and craftsmanship from a very early age. He saw trends come and go, and he also saw that the appeal of classic beauty transcends trends. At his parents’ store, Steve did everything from sweeping the floors to polishing rings to educating customers about diamonds and other gemstones.

In 1983, after studying geology at Northeast Louisiana University, Steve took over the management of the family business. For sixteen years, he operated Quenan’s Fine Jewelry in Louisiana.

Although he and his wife Kyra loved their hometown and its people, they wanted to pursue new opportunities in a growing community. While visiting friends in Central Texas, Kyra scouted locations in Austin, Round Rock, Bastrop (Texas), Lakeway, and finally, in Georgetown. The courthouse square with its Victorian buildings and historic feel reminded the Quenans of their hometown. Although Georgetown was growing at a rapid pace, the residents remained small-town friendly. The Quenans believed that their warm, personal service and extraordinary selection of jewelry lines would be a good fit for the growing community. They opened Quenan’s Jewelers in Georgetown, Texas in 1999 on Austin Avenue between 8th and 9th Streets.

Georgetown embraced the Quenans right from the start, and the Quenans grew to love their new hometown. In 2006, they purchased an office building on the corner of 7th Street and Austin Avenue, directly across from the historic Williamson County Courthouse. The original building had burned down, and the current building had been erected in the 1930’s. For a long time, a hardware store operated in this building. The Quenans wanted to introduce a new kind of hardware to this prime location on the square – fine jewelry.

They immediately began a massive renovation project, which they were determined would enhance the square and honor its Victorian heritage. In June of 2008, the renovation complete, Quenan’s Jewelers moved to 700 South Austin Avenue.