Burnie’s Rock Shop is one of the premier earth science stores in the Midwest. Founded in 1962 by Burnell “Burnie” Franke in Madison, Wisconsin, the shop began as an outlet for Burnie’s interest in rock hounding and gem cutting (lapidary.) From its first location in the basement of the University YMCA, and later a store front on Monroe Street, the shop offered for sale the rock and fossil specimens collected by Burnie, his family and employees, Soon, it came to supply students, teachers and craftspeople with supplies and tools for all aspects of jewelry making and lapidary, with an inventory augmented by minerals, fossils and gems from every corner of the globe.

In 1976, the shop relocated from Monroe Street to its present location at 901 E. Johnson Street on Madison’s near east corridor, and its offerings continued to expand. Burnie’s son, Nevin Franke, took over the business in 1999 and today he and his wife, Sonali Franke, run the family enterprise, providing the Madison community with a source for unique jewelry, diverse gifts, supplies, and equipment.

Today, our skilled and knowledgeable staff offer custom jewelry design and fabrication in Silver, Gold and Platinum. Throughout the Midwest the shop is renowned for quality jewelry repair, bead stringing and custom stone cutting and polishing.

Burnie’s Rock Shop offers fine mineral and fossil specimens for collectors, an affordable array of exquisite, hand-crafted jewelry, gemstones, beads and findings. Rock shop basics such as tumblers, tumbled stones, slabs, gemstone rough, geodes, rock hammers, tools and supplies continue to feature heavily into the product selection. As the clientele has broadened, more decorative products have been featured such as Marble and Onyx from Pakistan, real mounted butterflies from Peru, and gorgeous Peacock Marble vases and canisters from China.