Seymour Holtzman, who owned famed Chicago retailer C.D. Peacock after heading Jewelcor and Gruen Marketing, died on May 28 in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 88.

Holtzman was a self-described “serial entrepreneur” who got his start operating an advertising and printing business in his hometown of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Holtzman later became president and chief executive officer of Jewelcor, a publicly listed company that operated a nationwide chain of retail jewelers. At its height, Jewelcor had 38 stores and 2,000 employees. Holtzman also served as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Gruen Marketing Corporation, a publicly listed watch distributor.

In 1993, he bought C.D. Peacock—one of Chicago’s oldest retailers, whose notable patrons have encompassed everyone from Mary Todd Lincoln to Mick Jagger. Holtzman also owned Rolex Boutique Luxury Swiss in the Miami Design District, as well as various real estate holdings. C.D. Peacock is now run by son Steven.

Seymour Holtzman’s interests went beyond jewelry. From 2006 to 2020, he was the chairman and largest individual shareholder of Destination XL Group, America’s largest specialty retailer of big and tall men’s apparel, with over 400 locations.

In 1980, he served as the national finance co-chairman for the Reagan-Bush campaign. President Reagan later appointed Holtzman to the Commerce Department’s Industry Policy Advisory Committee for trade policy matters.

Holtzman is survived by Evelyn, his wife of 67 years; sons Steven and Marc; daughter Allison; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

(Photo courtesy of C.D. Peacock)

 

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