Millard Jewelers: Glittery Gems & Shiny Memories

Roy Stafford was a graphic artist with a zest for life and an interest in gemology. Those interests would lead him on the journey of a lifetime.

These days, Stafford is the owner of in the Chestnut Court shopping center in Darien.

But Stafford's career didn't start in the U.S. He grew up in the United Kingdom and spent some time in Australia. After military service in the UK, he began working for the U.S. government.

In 1965, that job brought Stafford to America. When his work was finished, he decided to stay. “I wanted to see the Mississippi, the Grand Canyon, Texas. I mean, there was a possibility I could run into John Wayne!” he exclaimed.

Stafford spoke of the lure of America in the UK. “We grew up around it, in all the movies we saw and the books we read," he said. "Especially books on the Mississippi, like Tom Sawyer. It was part of our background, a background that, back then, not too many people got an opportunity to explore. I had an entry visa. And I stayed. And I liked it.”

Stafford was sent to Chicago for a job, only to find that his help wasn’t needed. So he checked the small-business ads and found Richard’s Artistic Décor in Winston Plaza in Melrose Park. Richard became his first business partner.

“America was going through a Spanish renaissance,” Stafford said. "Everyone had Spanish furniture and carvings, alabaster and onyx. We thought that was fun! Our knowledge of business was limited at best. We succeeded in spite of ourselves."

As popular tastes changed, the furniture store evolved.  “Everyone was square-dancing,” he said, “wearing cowboy clothes, boots, belts, and this heavy Southwestern jewelry – turquoise, onyx, coral. From there, it went into gold.”

And so the décor business evolved into a jewelry business.

“Going into the jewelry business, selling gemstones and getting into diamonds, we realized we were selling something we didn’t know very much about,” said Stafford. So he studied at the Gemological Institute of America.

By the mid-1980’s, Stafford was ready to move. He sold the Melrose Park store as well as another shop that he’d opened with a different business partner. That other partner and Stafford opened a new jewelry store in a brand new shopping center on 75th Street in Downers Grove.

“Others sold jewelry but didn’t do much in the way of service,” observed Stafford. “We opened up a service center, and it became a vital part of our business.”

Jim DeTomaso has been Stafford’s business partner for the past 24 years and is also the son of Stafford’s previous partner.

DeTomaso remembers his mom bringing him into the business when he was 15 years old. “She said, ‘You’re coming to work today!’ And I never left,” he said.

When the Chestnut Court shopping center opened, Stafford and DeTomaso moved Millard across the street to its present location. moved in next-door.

Seven years ago, Stafford and DeTomaso bought that business. The original owner of the engraving business still enjoys working there. “It was a good acquisition in many, many ways,” Stafford said.

They have a faithful clientele.

DeTomaso noted, “We have customers that have moved away, some out of the country. We have customers everywhere. Most customers aren’t really customers anymore. They’re more like family.” 

is located in the Chestnut Court shopping center at 7511 Lemont Road, Suite #156, and their website is www.MillardJewelers.com. ADC Engraving & Gifts is located right next door in Suite #158, and can be reached by phone at 630-985-8449.