Uta Reilly’s family has entered its last season running the historic Klondike Nugget and Ivory Shop in Dawson City.
Klondike Nugget and Ivory has served Dawson City, the Yukon and beyond long enough to be considered nothing short of historic. In a location that has housed a jewelry store continuously since 1904, Uta Reilly is the fifth owner of the business, being hired in 1978 and taking the helm as owner in 1987.
“Over the years, we’ve had people stopping in and getting gifts and jewelry that have been quite unique; you couldn’t find these things in all the other gift shops,” said Reilly. “We always had things we made ourselves.”
The shop’s long history has also seen many gold miners bringing in their findings to have them made into special one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, something Reilly said is a special memory.
When Reilly first got hired at the shop, her main duties were cleaning up after the Dawson City flood in 1979, but due to her family’s history of running a retail business selling sewing machines and bicycles in Germany, she felt right home working in a shop, and it was just over a decade before she bought the business herself.
“I started working and never looked back,” she said.
Last year, when Reilly made the decision to retire from the business, Dawson City hosted a weekend of celebrations for her, with the town even declaring “Uta Reilly Day” during an open house at the shop. The mayor presented Reilly with some gifts, and she was delighted to see a banner put up for the celebration.
“That was a big surprise,” she said of the festivities, adding with a laugh: “It was a little overwhelming.”
When asked what she would say to the community that has supported her business over the years, Reilly expresses nothing but gratitude, also mentioning that she’s lucky to have had such great staff, employing many students during their summers in Dawson City.
Reilly’s daughter, Sandra Kehoe, who has helped run the business alongside her husband Greg and two children, offered a special thank you to their past mentors in the business, Ag and George Shaw and Amy and Earl Bennett.
“Both previous sets of owners worked together in the business when Mom first started,” she said. “They became more like extended family than employers, and coworkers. This style of business and work place remained. We would like to shout out and thank all of the employees and coworkers we have had since. Without you we wouldn’t have been the store and workplace we knew and loved. It is easy to go to work everyday when you have good relationships and laughter. We thank you and the greater community for your love, laughter and support.”
As of now, Klondike Nugget and Ivory will be open through the summer season until the end of September. Reilly’s family is still hopeful that a buyer will emerge to take over the business. The shop is located on the corner of Front and Queen St. in Dawson City. To learn more, visit the Klondike Nugget and Ivory Shop’s website at knis.ca/index.html
