60 Years

I bought a gallon of paint this morning from Gary…

I’m gonna guess it was ten to fifteen years ago when I stopped in at Village Paint, down on Mohawk Ave. in Scotia.  Gary was at the counter.  Gary is always at the counter.  His store, like every other locally owned small business, demands his full time attention. Every day. On that particular day, we exchanged our typical pleasantries.  The good mornings.  The how ya beens? How’s business? Gary told me he’d just gotten back from a Benjamin Moore dealer’s conference.

This may shock you but I’m something of a smart ass.

“You guys really painted the town I’ll bet!”

Gary just smiled so I tried again..

“What’d you learn at the conference? 11 new shades of blue?”

He was patient with me. And then he challenged me with something he’d picked up from a speaker at the conference.

He challenged me to head up to my restaurant and walk in the front door as if I’d never been here before. To take a good look at the esthetics, the lighting, the mood, the level of comfort, the overall vibe a customer would be struck with on first impression.

I did that.  And then I tore apart the entrance.  The dark, unwelcoming wood shed you had to go through to get to the door. We rebuilt it.  Painted it. Added lights.  First thing you see now upon entering are two pictures.  One is a painting of my dog Tugg by local artist Sharon Bolton. It’s gorgeous. The other is a color pencil and crayon rendering of this barn as seen through the eyes of my daughter Meegan when she was in 2nd or 3rd grade.  Also gorgeous. And hopefully, a warm and welcoming first glance inside.  I think of that conversation with Gary every time I walk through the entrance of this place.  Every time I shovel the front walk. Every time I check in with the hostess station. Every time I pick up a gum wrapper or a discarded coffee cup.

I bought a gallon of paint this morning from Gary.  Just 1 gallon to do my annual resurfacing of the utility room floor. He treats me, and every customer in the door, like they’re the biggest account he has. With patience, respect, appreciation.  Every drop of paint on or in this barn came from Village Paint. Thanks for all of your sound advice over the years, Gary. And congratulations on 60 incredible years of Village Paint serving the community! 60 years. Six Oh !