In 1928, Malloves had 5 stores: Middletown, Danbury, Norwich, New London and Fitchburg, MA. When the Malloves’ family sold their businesses in 1938, grandfather Max Levin bought the Middletown jewelry store and incorporated it with their gift store. On July 11, 1940, Max was killed in an automobile accident. Max’s son Buzzy, just 13, began to help out with the family business. During Buzzy’s senior year of high school, his Uncle Joe decided to take a break from the business. Buzzy decided to stay on with the family business –even though he had a try-out with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Buzzy Levin officially bought the business from his Mom Beatrice and Uncle Joe in 1957. Buzzy prided himself on building a business based on hard-work and hand-shakes. Malloves was a place where a young couple could establish credit by purchasing their wedding rings for $1 down and $1 a week. Buzzy ran Malloves Jewelers through times of great success as well as great struggle including a fire on December 20, 1972 which completely destroyed the store. Buzzy moved to a much smaller temporary location for two years before permanently relocating to the current location at 404 Main Street in Middletown in 1974.
In 1983, Buzzy’s son Marc joined the Malloves team after attending the University of Tampa. In 1992, Marc took over the business and the rest is history! Marc is entering his 32nd year as President of Malloves Jewelers. Buzzy Levin passed away in 2017, but the Malloves family tradition lives on.
