Johnson’s Custom Jewelry Inc., in downtown Spokane, has moved into a space more than six times larger than its previous storefront.

Owner Travis Johnson now operates his business in the building that once served as home to Dodson’s Jewelers, at 516 W. Riverside.

When former Dodson’s operators Penn Fix and Debra Schultz closed Dodson’s in February, they immediately approached Johnson to gauge his interest in relocating from the Peyton Building, at 10 N. Post, Johnson says.

“We’d been doing Dodson’s repair and custom work for a few years so we had a relationship in place,” Johnson says. “And we definitely need more room.”

Johnson had just 600 square feet of space in the Peyton Building. Now he’s in 3,700 square feet in what will soon be named The Dodson Building, which Fix and Schultz own. The building has three floors and a basement. Fix and Schultz still have a presence there and operate the building.

“It’s great to still have them around as mentors for us as we try to help grow the business,” Johnson says.

Johnson says his company, with five employees, has averaged 15% growth per year in annual revenue over the last few years.

“Penn and Debra have said their last six years in business were the best they ever had. The only reason they closed the business is because they wanted to retire and do some different things,” Johnson says. “We couldn’t be in a better location, so we’re eager to see where we can go from here.”

Johnson and his wife, Denay Johnson, opened the business in 2011. Travis Johnson has been in the jewelry business since 1998 and graduated from the Gemological Institute of America, of Carlsbad, California, in 2003.