A jewelry workshop chain that teaches customers to solder their own silver rings is preparing to move into Alderwood Mall this September, according to the mall's own store directory, which already lists the business as coming soon. Gem Studio will occupy a space at 3000 184th St. SW, Unit 0366, in Lynnwood, near retailers including Potato Corner, Cinnabon, Vans, and Tilly's.
The company's plans for the Lynnwood location were first reported by WhatNow, which noted that Gem Studio will offer guided silversmithing, charm, and permanent jewelry workshops alongside ready-made pieces for sale. Gem Studio has said it will share more details about the Alderwood opening as September approaches, and the company has been using Instagram to post opening updates for its various locations. The Lynnwood shop would join existing Gem Studio locations in Salt Lake City, St. George, Waikiki, Boise, Gilbert, Irvine, Park City, and Provo, plus an operation in Canada.
From a Provo Apartment to an International Brand
Gem Studio's roots trace back to 2017, when founder Matt James started the company in his Provo, Utah apartment. James self-taught silversmithing through YouTube videos at age 23 before launching his first ring-making classes to fund charitable work in Uganda, according to Utah Business. Customer demand quickly grew large enough that James dropped out of college and converted a backyard shed into his first formal studio, the outlet reported.
The business began as a fundraiser supporting a school for at-risk children in Uganda, and Gem Studio still donates a portion of its sales revenue to that cause. The nonprofit, 1 Heart 1 Mind, supports more than 250 at-risk children with housing and education on a five-acre campus in the mountains of Mbale, Uganda, according to Gem Studio's own account of its mission.
An 'Anti-AI Bet' on Screen-Free Crafting
In a July interview, James described Gem Studio's workshop model as an “anti-AI bet,” aiming to give customers screen-free, hands-on crafting experiences as Gen Z increasingly seeks out tactile human connection, per Utah Business's July report. That strategy has fueled rapid growth, including Gem Studio's first venture outside the United States: a June opening at The Well development in downtown Toronto, where the company debuted silversmithing, charm, and permanent jewelry workshops.
At its workshops, beginners get 2 to 3 hours of guided instruction using .925 sterling silver tools and natural semi-precious gemstones, learning to solder, shape metal, and set stones. Finished customer pieces typically cost between $125 and $150, based on details Gem Studio has published for its workshops.
Alderwood's Evolution Into a Mixed-Use Draw
Gem Studio's arrival fits into a broader pattern of change at Alderwood Mall, Snohomish County's largest shopping center at roughly 1.3 to 1.5 million square feet. Opened in 1979, the property now hosts around 170 retailers across an enclosed core and two open-air lifestyle sections known as The Village and The Terraces, according to Wikipedia's entry on the mall.
Mall owner Brookfield Properties has been reshaping the property beyond traditional retail, most notably by converting the former Sears anchor space into Avalon Alderwood Place, a 328-unit residential complex completed in 2022 that brought built-in residential foot traffic directly to the site, as reported by KING 5. National fragrance retailers Perfumania and The Fragrance Outlet also announced in June that they are opening a location at Alderwood as part of a 43-store nationwide expansion, per Shopping Center Business. The mall also extended its hours effective August 1, now opening 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Part of a Bigger Lynnwood Transit Push
The leasing momentum around Alderwood comes as Lynnwood pursues a broader transformation of the area into a denser, transit-oriented hub. The city adopted its City Center + Alderwood Subarea Plan in June 2025 to redevelop the commercial corridor near regional light rail, a framework Hoodline detailed in its coverage of a Lynnwood office tower sale by Alderwood Mall. Gem Studio's planned opening adds to a string of recent retail moves near the mall, including Hoodline's reporting on Dave's Hot Chicken landing nearby and Sierra opening at Alderwood Plaza.
Whether Gem Studio's screen-free workshop concept can sustain its rapid multi-state and international growth as it lands in Snohomish County remains to be seen, and the company has not yet detailed a specific opening date beyond its general September target. For now, Alderwood shoppers can expect the studio's sign to go up near Potato Corner, Cinnabon, Vans, and Tilly's as the fall opening approaches.
