Our longtime Le Mars business is entering a new chapter with the sale of Hotopp Jewelry and Gifts to Jessica Pottebaum and her husband Jeff of Remsen.    It was important to us that the store remain a retail anchor in the community. Exciting things are happening in downtown Le Mars!

   The ownership transition takes  place August 1, with the store reopening Monday, August 10.  While the store is temporarily closed, call or text Jessica Pottebaum at (712)540-3838 with questions or to arrange repair pick-ups.

    Jessica Pottebaum expressed enthusiasm about the transition. “We are excited to take over this beloved business,” she said. “We will continue offering the best in fine jewelry, gifts, and home décor, with plans to expand our selection. Our current employees will remain, providing the friendly customer service that has long been a trademark of Hotopp’s.”

Robin will remain involved as an advisor to the store, and Dave will continue his part-time role at KLEM Radio.
(pictured at the jewelry counter, left to right, Jessica Pottebaum and Robin Grosenheider.  

Hotopp Jewelry & Gifts is one of the oldest retail businesses operating in Le Mars, IA.  More than six decades  ago, Walter and Frieda Hotopp purchased a jewelry store in Le Mars that still carries their name. Dave & Robin Grosenheider have owned Hotopp’s for forty-eight years.
Dave was just twenty-one years old when the young couple purchased the thriving business which at that time was located on what they called “busy Plymouth Street.” Rudy and Marge Adler had their sporting goods store next door and the legendary Club Café was just two doors down. Dave’s parents, Bob and Violet Grosenheider, were operating Carmen’s Dress Shop, just west of Hotopp’s.
The Grosenheider’s relocated their store in 1990 to its current location on Central Avenue . Although it was just  a block and a half away, it was no easy task….especially the move of the large safe, estimated to weigh nearly 3,000 pounds.
Current staff members (pictured here, left to right)  Dawn Richards, owner/manager Jessica Pottebaum ,Jane Grosenheider, Robin Grosenheider, Kim Westergard, and  Kathy SItzmann  offer friendly, professional service and are responsible for the signature breathtaking window displays and merchandising inside the store.  
Most jewelry repairs are done right in the store.  Kevin Small expertly performs the diamond setting, ring sizing, prong replacement, and many other intricate repairs from his workbench in the back of Hotopp’s.

Walter & Frida Hotopp started the Hotopp Jewelry store  in in Le Mars during the month of April in 1959.
The couple, originally from Germany, came to Le Mars from Remsen, to operate the longtime Le Mars jewelry story in the H. F. Clasen location.
Walter Hotopp was an expert in watch and jewelry repair. According to a Remsen Bell-Enterprise article, his career began on April 1 , 1927 in Halserstadt, Germany. He worked for a number of jewelry stores and in 1938 built a wrist watch by hand for his "thesis" of Master Watchmaker.
After his marriage to Frida, they opened their own store in Berlin and from 1942 to 1945 worked for the equivalent of General Electric, known as Telefunken.  The Hotopps were bombed out twice and fled Berlin just ahead of the advancing Russian Army.
In June of 1945 the Hotopps opened a store in the province of Westphalia, where they stayed until 1953 when they sold their business and came to America.
Mr. Hotopp received his watchmaker license in Des Moines which, at that time, was required by law.  The couple purchased the Kohler Jewelry store in Remsen and in November of 1958 they purchased the stock of the Huewe Jewelry store before opening the Le Mars business in April of 1959.

Tom Otis and Tom Nelson of Nelson Jewelers in Spencer, Iowa purchased Hotopp Jewelers from Walter and Frida in March of 1973.  They owned the Le Mars store for close to five years before Dave and Robin Grosenheider purchased the store in January 1978.
Bill Otis was the manager of the business until Dave took over the management of the business.

  Robin assumed the management duties in 1990 after working as manager of Carmen's Dress Shop, owned by Dave's parents- Bob and Violet Grosenheider.

(Le Mars Daily Sentinel photo and advertisement)

This picture is from the late 1970's when Hotopp Jewelry & Gifts was located on Plymouth Street in Le Mars.

Dave is pictured with long-time employees Phylis Koopman and Sue Barnable.

At that time the store carried German crystal, Hummel figurines, and had a full china department.

Robin became the store manager in 1990 when the store moved to its present location on Central Avenue.

We were humbled to receive the Le Mars Chamber Business of the Year Award Thursday evening, January 22,   It was a total surprise and an extra bonus that our awesome staff could join us on stage for this honor.
It was 48 years ago that we purchased the store at the age of 21 years old.
The Chamber has been a big part of our business/community philosophy since we began this nearly five decade journey.  It was a natural partnership as Dave's mom was the first female President of the Le Mars Chamber in the late 1960's.  We have both served on the Chamber board and we've been Chamber Ambassadors for close to 35 years.
We are so blessed by the support of the community over these many years and to have such a wonderful group of employees who are also great friends.
Again--THANK YOU!  We look forward to serving you in 2026!!!!