Chesney's Jewelry has been a fixture at 241 East Brazos in West Columbia, Texas, since 1924. It was purchased by Ernest H. Chesney for $325 for his step-father, Thomas H. Causey. Mr. Causey taught Ernest the business of watchmaking. After his marriage to Virginia Brunner six years later, they ran the business together. The original store front was located on the West Columbia boardwalk where their daughter, Donna, was known as "the boardwalk baby." The family lived in the back of the original store until they purchased a home when Donna was 2 years old. The board was removed in the early 1940s and Chesney's is one of the few remaining businesses from the boardwalk days. Its current location is right down the street from the original location.

After the death of Ernest in 1966, Virginia ran the business with her daughter, Donna Loggins. In 1977, when Virginia was ready to retire, Donna bought the store from her mother and has been there ever since. Chesney's Jewelry has carried a variety of inventory over the years from jewelry, watches, china, and crystal.

In the 1940s, West Columbia students came to the store to measure and order their high school class rings. As a graduation gift, Chesney's gave each senior a small gift chest. Many of these adults come in to say they still have that memory box.

One of its famous customers was the singer Bing Crosby's second wife, Kathryn Grandstaff. Her family worked and lived in the community and Kathryn had aspirations of being a star in Hollywood. She won the Houston Livestock Show Queen Contest in the 1940s and was given a screen test, to which several movies followed. When she and Bing were engaged, the city of West Columbia went all out to have a wedding shower that Kathryn and Bing attended. Through the years, Kathryn and her daughter, Mary, remained customers.