Haven Coin & Jewelry: From Graduation to Gold Buying By Theresa Cramer of CTSBDC

What started as a pandemic-era interest for Matt Pavia and his business partner has turned into a booming business in Hamden. Stuck at home during lockdown, they both started exploring the world of collectible coins—from YouTube to trade shows—and buying and selling precious metals. While they certainly are not the first team to turn a new hobby into their full-time gig, they may be among the youngest, opening Haven Coin & Jewelry in Hamden before the ink was even dry on their college degrees.

The duo is emblematic of a new generation of entrepreneurs bringing a breath of fresh air to the state and the city. Pavia, originally from New York, and his partner, a Michigan native, met at coin shows around the country before finding themselves at the same internship at Stack's Bowers in California. While living and working together over the summer, they found themselves thinking, "We could do this ourselves!" Pavia, who graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2026, saw an opportunity in the Hamden area: a dense and economically diverse population of people without a good gold buyer. Now, the partner says, "We're building something great in Connecticut."

Less than a year since they opened their doors, not only is Haven Coin & Jewelry off to a good start, but the company is also ready to grow for a second time.

Connecting in Connecticut

It's clear that this team are self-starters; in fact, they launched the business with their own money saved from buying and selling coins on their own. Still, they know the value of expert guidance and relationships, which led Pavia’s partner to discover Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC)—which provides no-cost, one-on-one business advising to small businesses—before he even made it to Connecticut.

He stopped in a coffee shop on his way from Michigan to Connecticut and started Googling, which led him to CTSBDC where he was matched with Business Advisor Dean Schwartz. "More than anything, it's like having a wise bird on our shoulder," he says. Schwartz has worked with his clients to strengthen the company’s online presence through search engine optimization (SEO), content organization, and strategies designed to improve visibility in both traditional search results and emerging AI-driven search environments.

The duo’s initial investment allowed them to rent a small office in Hamden, though it was admittedly lost in a maze of hallways. After just a month they moved to a storefront in the same building. Their goal is to build a more elevated and comforting experience for their customers. Many people who walk through the door are new to this world, looking for a place to sell grandma's silverware that never gets used anymore. By offering snacks, water, and some of the most competitive prices around, Haven Coin & Jewelry delights customers while building a reputation for being trustworthy.

Modernizing and moving forward

Both founders believe relationships have been key to their success. They have built trust with industry figures throughout the country as they attend coin shows, and it has helped them grow. After Pavia’s partner lamented to a contact that they simply did not have the cash available to make large purchases when someone came through the door with a substantial collection, that friend extended a line of credit asking only for a promise that they would get a first crack at the best items.

The strategy built on trust and connections seems to be working as they continue to plan for future growth. With help from Schwartz to organize their financial statements and reporting processes—providing a clearer understanding of company performance—Haven Coin & Jewelry applied for and won a NHE3 grant to buy a new machine to x-ray metals, rather than using nitric acid to test their quality.

Haven Coin & Jewelry is also investing in another important partnership. One of their employees, a live streamer on WhatNot—an online, real-time shopping marketplace—is moving to Connecticut from Illinois so they can work more effectively together. The goal is to move into a new space which is about six times bigger than their current storefront and build an entire studio strictly for livestreaming.

As Haven Coin & Jewelry plans for the future, Schwartz says he will continue to provide guidance on inventory planning and other financial considerations associated with growth. With ambition, industry expertise, and a commitment to earning customers’ trust, Haven Coin & Jewelry are transforming a passion into a lucrative Connecticut business in less than a year—while bringing renewed energy to the entrepreneurial community.