Main Street Matters

We recently sat down with Benji Lewis—owner of the Warno-Cam Paint Company in Macon, GA—to learn how an after-school job turned into a full-time labor of love and a lifetime career.

Tell us how you came to be a Benjamin Moore dealer. Well, I’ve been a Benjamin Moore dealer now for about 30 years. I actually started working here when I was in high school, as a stock guy, and ended up buying the company. Benjamin Moore actually helped me become a dealer—so they put me in business and I’ve stuck with them.

What makes Benjamin Moore different from other paint companies? It’s the quality of the material—much higher quality material. You can always buy something cheaper, but you won’t buy anything better, and that’s why I sell as much of it as I do.

What do you enjoy most about being a Benjamin Moore dealer? I enjoy the sales aspect of it. And doing it as long as I have, I’ve made some really good friends. A lot of them I see every day, or twice a day, or three times a day—especially painting contractors. And they’re just good people, you know? They’re my customers. And I want to be of service to them.

As a salesperson, how do you learn what kind of paint to use and how to make good recommendations for your customers? That all comes with time and experience. When you go to a local dealer who owns his own business, and who’s been doing it for many, many years, you get the benefit of that experience. When you go to a box store, you might end up with some kid in the paint department who used to work in the plumbing department, and he doesn’t know anything about paint. This is all I do. I don’t sell refrigerators. I sell paint. And coming up working here, I learned through the experience of other people. I was taught by other people who’d also been doing it for many, many years, and I learned by osmosis, you know? You hear it and hear it and hear it, and it just sinks in.

Tell us how you got started working here in high school. I knew the owner’s daughter, and I was looking for something part time, which was just after school. I’d come in at 3:00 pm and work until 5:30 pm, and then that when on through high school. Then when I graduated high school, I would work full time and go to college at night.

What led to the decision of buying the store? At one time, we had two stores, and I was the manager of both. I pretty much ran things for the owner, who wasn’t here very much. Eventually, he and I parted ways, and Benjamin Moore came to me and said we want you to own a paint store. They actually found me a store in Savannah, Georgia, and I went to Savannah and owned a store there for a year before I came back here. After I left, this store went down a little bit. When I came back it was ready to be sold, and Benjamin Moore helped me acquire the store.

How have you seen your business affect the people in your community? Well, I guess people are satisfied with what they buy from me, because I have a lot of repeat customers. And we’re kind of centrally located—near downtown, near North Macon—so I get a good mix of retail customers and contractor customers. And of course I recommend contractors to our customers. And if they’re satisfied with that and the service we offer, that’s my whole goal. It’s to keep them coming back.

What was downtown like when you were growing up around here? When I was growing up—remember I’m 50-something years old—we still shopped downtown. You didn’t have malls like you do now, these strip centers and stuff. So I can remember going downtown and shopping with my mother, and downtown was a very active place. As you know, with any city, you get the sprawl and you get these outlying malls and different things, and downtowns tend to dry up. But Macon’s working really hard to bring downtown back. And it’s working!

How did you hear about the Main Street Matters campaign? Actually my wife was on the internet and found it. I think Benjamin Moore had emailed something to us at home, and she had mentioned it to me. I really didn’t know that much about it until a couple weeks into it, so we started about ten days late. But once we found out, I told everybody I could tell. I got stuff printed up, and I left them at restaurants and stores. We got together with Historic Macon, and everybody in Macon supported it and jumped on it, and we got lots of votes! It was a wonderful thing for downtown. The city of Macon was already working on a revitalization program for Second Street, so it all hit at the perfect time. It turned out really nice.

Never been to Halifax? You’re probably more familiar with the historic streets of Halifax than you think: Many Canadian and American filmmakers use the city’s streetscapes to stand in for other cities. The port makes it a popular location for films about ships—look closely and you can spot it in Titanic.

But the harbor city of Halifax is more than just photogenic—it’s also a cultural hub for all of Nova Scotia, attracting visitors all year round to art galleries, theaters, performance venues, world-renowned festivals, and an active nightlife scene.

Halifax has had a bustling live music and theater community since its founding in 1749—by the 1780s, there were already two Grand Theaters. Today, it’s the home of a rich and varied musical community, with local acts ranging from European classical to traditional Celtic, plus an indie music scene that threatened to overtake Seattle’s in the 1990s.

A sunny day on the Halifax boardwalk (Photo from Wikimedia Commons user Simon P)

Halifax’s nightlife has a quite a reputation in Canada—it’s said to have one of the highest ratios of bars per resident of any Canadian City. On any given night, you can find live music of almost any style being performed in Halifax’s bars until last call, when partygoers head to a famous Halifax intersection called Pizza Corner. At the junction of Blowers and Grafton streets you’ll find landmark pizzerias known for their Halifax-style donairs.

Never heard of a donair? You’re missing out. It may sound like a Turkish doner kebab, but the composition is quite different. The Globe and Mail reports that the local specialty consists of spiced ground beef shaped into a loaf and roasted on a spit, which is then shaved onto a Lebanese-style pita and topped with tomatoes and raw onions, and accompanied by an “addictively sweet” combination of evaporated milk, vinegar, garlic powder, and sugar. It’s best eaten at 3 a.m., when you won’t care so much about the mess it’ll make on your chin and shirt.

  If you asked Macon resident Rick Hill, he’d tell you that his town was missing something: a true destination for country music.

Over the course of two years, Rick set out to create that destination. In 2013, he opened The Crazy Bull: a nightclub with three levels and three venues showcasing live music from all over the region, primarily country and rock acts.

Hill was drawn to a 26,000-square-foot space in an abandoned building constructed in 1899. He’d previously turned an empty warehouse into an antique mall and a few acres of dirt into a golf course, so he could see the potential that the old building offered. The project took two years and more than $1 million, but the Crazy Bull promises to draw a crowd to the rapidly changing downtown scene.

According to a feature on livedowntownmacon.com, the idea came to Hill when he was on tour with rising country star Jared Ashley, who also happens to be his son-in-law. Hill started paying close attention to the best things about the venues Ashley played, and “realized that there was a need, and a hole in downtown Macon, for country music.”

Last summer, Hill rushed to finish the space in time for The Bragg Jam Music Festival and Concert Crawl, which featured 56 bands on 15 stages. The paint was still drying as the crowds came in, but the Crazy Bull team pulled it off.

Hill is very excited to bring in lots of local talent—he wants the venue to be a place where young local musicians can learn the business, play for a crowd, and develop professionally.

  From the hills of Penticton in the Pacific Northwest, to the beaches of Sea Bright on the Atlantic, we’ve been celebrating in towns across the continent!

With so much paint applied and so many Main Street communities revitalized, we’ve had a lot to celebrate—and thanks to community volunteers, enthusiastic fans, and a stroke of luck from Mother Nature, each one went off without a hitch.

Check out our favorite Main Street moments from Attleboro, Flint, Penticton, Sea Bright, and Stouffville. Then share your favorite part of your town’s celebration in the comments below.

    Check out more photos from Attleboro.

    Check out more photos from Flint.

    Check out more photos from Penticton.

    Check out more photos from Sea Bright.

  What do want to be when you grow up? It’s a question we’ve all pondered. But few end up chasing their childhood dreams like Attleboro's Erin Reilly, owner and operator of The Dance Factory dance school.

Having taught and choreographed since high school and throughout her years at Bridgewater State College, Erin is now opening a new studio in the same space where she took lessons as a little girl.

After Attleboro’s recent celebration event—featuring a stellar performance by the Dance Factory’s littlest stars—we sat down with Erin to hear about the highlights, and how Main Street revitalization efforts have helped enhance her relocation experience.

      How long have you been teaching dance? Is there a particular class that’s your favorite to teach?

This is my 10th year teaching as director and owner of The Dance Factory. Before I opened my studio, I graduated from Bridgewater State College with a major in Communication Studies and Theater Arts with a concentration in Dance Education.

Every subject and age group is so different and exciting! It makes every day interesting. I enjoy teaching preschool and kindergarten dance classes, and tap and jazz to all ages and abilities.

    Tell us about The Dance Factory performance during the Main Street Matters celebration event.

What a fun day! One of my 2- and 3-year-old ballet classes performed in their recital costumes to Shirley Temple’s "Animal Crackers." Then one of my 4- to 6-year-old jazz classes performed "Oh So Quiet" from Disney’s Ice Princess.

There are always funny moments with our little dancers. Most of the 2- and 3-year-olds sang their song proudly, but one little girl decided she’d had enough, and walked calmly over to her mom, and sat and watched. Then when the 4- to 6-year-olds started, they ended up “following the leader” down the walkway and almost out of the park! I had to tell the DJ to stop the music and run down to get the kids!

It was cute—you really have to be ready for anything, and stay calm and smile! It was a treat to get to perform our recital dances early, outside on a beautiful day.

  Erin Reilly and her Dance Factory students pose just after their celebration performance.

    The new Dance Factory space used to house another dance studio where you took classes as a little girl. What’s it like to return to the place where it all started?

Just amazing—there are so many memories! When I was in 4th grade, I told my teacher I wanted to grow up and be her. Then just last week, I was standing in the exact spot where I would warm up in class, and had an “ah-ha” moment. I realized—finally—it’s actually happening!

My teachers have all inspired me so much and I want to do the same for my students. I want to be the neighborhood dance school where students of all ages and abilities can come and be excited and inspired by dance. It’s so exciting to see all the hard work start to pay off.

    Did the Main Street Matters revitalization efforts have any influence on your decision to relocate? What are you looking forward to most in the new space?

We had made an offer on 35 Park Street before I knew anything about the project, but with their help, the building has changed completely. Along with the outside, I’ve painted the entire inside of the building and made some changes to the inside with the help and guidance of the Main Street Matters crew.

35 Park Street is amazing because it’s right in the center of downtown. I love the fact that I can be inside and see everyone walking by the big storefront windows. It’s like a window showcasing my product! Every time I go to help get the space ready, someone walks by and stops to say hi—it’s great. I feel like I’m right in the middle of everything there.

    What’s the best part of owning a business in Attleboro?

For me, it’s the fact that there are so many schools. It means there will always be children of all ages in the area. And being a downtown business, you’re part of something that’s bigger than just your business. You’re a part of a community!

We’re thrilled to have been a part of the Attleboro community for this amazing project, and we can’t wait to see what other dreams come true for its inspiring residents.

  We’ve met a lot of inspiring people throughout the past year, but the gratitude of residents like Linda Richter never ceases to amaze us.

After the Main Street Matters crew started their work in Sea Bright—a New Jersey town that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy—we received a heartfelt letter of thanks from Linda Richter, one of Sea Bright’s most resilient residents.

  Week after week, we hear from grateful town residents, thrilled about their Main Street revitalization. But none of our progress could have possible without the help of local Benjamin Moore retailers.

We recently sat down with John and Tracy Kelly—owners of True Colours Paint & Window Coverings in Penticton, BC—to talk creativity, community, and the kinds of customers who invite them over for a glass of wine.

      Tell us how you came to be Benjamin Moore dealers.

John: We were with some friends who were acquaintances with the old owner, and he had informed them that he was looking to retire, so we ended up giving him a call. We were very interested in the paint store—we’ve come here as customers, love the staff—and decided to buy it. That was probably about 18 months ago, and we purchased the store last May 1st.

Tracy: I thought it was really exciting for us to venture into something new together. We have young children at home, and we wanted that flexibility. When you own your own business, yes, sometimes the hours are a lot, but when you have a fantastic staff you have the flexibility—to be home, or at their hockey games, or at school events. It works really well for our family.

    What was it about Benjamin Moore that helped you decide this store would be a good investment?

J: I think we looked at this business as one that could do well because Benjamin Moore is very high-quality paint. And we believe that when you sell the best, you’re always going to have that repeat business.

T: When you have a brand like Benjamin Moore behind your business, there’s such a fantastic team already helping you with your advertising, with your marketing. It’s a well-known brand, so it’s perfect to jump on board with something like that.

    What is it like to have a business that is so connected to the community?

J: I love dealing with the customers. I like making the customers happy, so to be able to offer a store where I can see those rewards is great. We have customers coming back and showing us pictures and saying, “This is what we did in our house,” or “Look at this piece of furniture we painted,” and that’s the best reward.

T: Going into someone’s home, and having them ask your color opinions or thoughts on draperies and window coverings—you spend an hour or two, you have a cup of coffee, and you really get to know your clients. I’ve had phone calls afterwards where someone says, “Can you come over for a glass of wine? I just want you to see the finished product.” You build a really nice relationship. I’ve met a lot of fantastic people in our town, and I really enjoy helping them achieve that look that they’re after.

    What would be your advice to entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

J: I think your staff are probably number one. Make sure you have the proper staff and the proper training and you’ll succeed. Make sure you have a company like Benjamin Moore that’s gonna stand behind you and stand behind their products.

T: One thing that I would add to that—and something that John has always done and his dad did before—is to be involved in community, especially in a small town like we’re in. To volunteer, to donate products, time, and services, to help the local charities—people respect that a lot—that philosophy of giving back to your communities through your business.

  This Earth Day marked Westerly’s first annual Trashion Fashion Show, featuring 40 one-of-a-kind garments made entirely from recycled materials, showcasing the creative handiwork of residents and business leaders in this Rhode Island town.

With fashions made from bubble wrap, coffee filters, pistachio shells and clothespins, the avant-garde event raised $3,600 for the Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce and its campaign to repair the historic Granite Theatre.

Our favorite dress to hit the runway? This colorful little number made entirely of Benjamin Moore color chips.

We spoke with Lisa Konicki, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce—and emcee of the show—to find out how she turned donated color chips into upcycled couture.

  How did you get the idea to create a dress out of Benjamin Moore color chips?

I wanted to create a dress for my daughter’s best friend Ashley Culver so they could participate in the Trashion Fashion show together. Ashley is a lovely young lady and has beautiful blonde hair. I thought a mermaid-style garment would look great on her. When considering how I might incorporate rich colors of blues and greens, it occurred to me that using Benjamin Moore color chips would work perfectly.

I contacted our local store, Westerly Paints, and asked if they had old samples they could donate. They had plenty for me to use. Given the Main Street Matters program taking place in Westerly, it seemed like a great way to showcase and pay tribute to Benjamin Moore at this event.

  How long did it take you to put the dress together?

It took over 30 hours to create the bodice from shipping tape and color chips. I cut the samples, sorted them, glued them, and made holes to string ribbon through the back like a corset. Then I cut an old umbrella for the train and secured that with staples.

  Were there any particular challenges you faced?

It was a time consuming process to cut all the color chips into “gill” shapes and sort them in a graduated color scheme. For the most part, gluing them on worked well. The biggest challenge was gluing the gills around the hips and ribs and getting the chips to stick. I had to use Scotch Tape to help secure them on these curved edges, and then removed the tape once the glue beneath was dry.

  What advice do you have for people trying to create change in their communities?

My favorite expression is “if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.” My advice is to find something you are passionate about and get involved in making a positive difference. It’s personally rewarding, fun, and can really make difference in your community.