LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Thursday was a sad day for local rock lovers.

Sandy's Rock Shop officially closed its doors after close to 13 years in business, according to owner Connie Burton.

“It's very sad,” Burton said.

Burton, who retired from the medical field, said she bought the shop – located in a little building at 9800 Highway 53 in Lower Lake – from business founder Sandy Thuet three years ago.

Along with her husband, Greg, and their family, Burton – a member of the Lake County Rockhounds – enjoyed running the business, and traveling to collect items.

“It was fun, we like rocks,” she said.

Sandy's Rock Shop was a favorite stop for tourists and locals alike. A visitor could find all manner of interesting rocks and gemstones, jewelry, fossils and shark teeth. Classes in jewelry making also were offered.

The shop specialized in Lake County diamonds, semi-precious stones of volcanic origin found nowhere else in the world, according to www.lakecounty.com.

Burton said she lent the Lake County Museum in Lakeport a 94-carat Lake County diamond that is on display there.

However Burton said the economic downturn made running the shop no longer feasible, and led to the tough decision to close the storefront.

“We've been toying with the idea for about a year,” she said.

She said they didn't make a big public announcement, just telling rockhound club members and friends.

“Everybody's shocked,” she said.

However, Burton said she and her family plan to stay active with the rock business.

“We kept pretty much all of our inventory,” she said.

Burton said she will continue to sell items online on eBay, at www.sandysrockshop.com (see the “Shop” tab) and at local shows and events such as the Heron Festival in the spring. Her visitor packs of Lake County diamonds will remain available at the Lake County Visitors Center in Lucerne.

Rock lovers and collectors will still be able to reach her at the business phone number, 707-350-2248.

Burton is philosophical about the shop's closing.

“One door closes and another door opens,” she said. “Who knows where we'll go from here.”

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