#shopFranklin Photo Spotlight: Grove Street Auto Repair

Earlier this month Jean from Grove Street Auto Repair had inquired about being featured in one of my #shopFranklin photo spotlights.  Normally I have to scout out businesses myself and hope that they agree to be highlighted so I was happy when one volunteered- made my job easier!  It was also the first time that I’d received a behind the scenes tour of an auto repair shop so wasn’t sure what to expect.  I really enjoyed it and as I assured Jean, I have a unique way of seeing the world and can find interesting things to take photos of everywhere- including an auto repair shop! 😉

Grove Street Auto Repair is located at 79 Grove Street in Franklin, MA and has built a strong reputation in the community for more than 15 years.  They are a family operated business owned by brothers Bobby and Patrick Weidman with their sister Jean serving as Service Manager.  Customers appreciate their honest and friendly service which is refreshing.  You’ll find a variety of services offered here including towing, auto repairs (both foreign & domestic models), oil changes, state inspections, and tires.  They stock top quality tire brands including MICHELIN©, BFGoodrich©, Uniroyal©, General and Continental to give your vehicle a smooth ride.  The technicians working on your vehicle are experienced in all types of repair and hold certifications from ACCC, ASA, ASE, BBB, TIA, and TECHNET.

During my visit Jean pointed out a few things that make their shop unique including a system that reuses motor oil and converts it to heat for the building which I thought was great.  They also occasionally offer a ladies night where women (& teens) can learn some basic car maintenance tips to be better prepared should they ever get a flat tire or run low on fluids.  What a great idea!

Find more information including their tire catalog, coupons, repair services and  appointment scheduling on their website www.grovestreettt.com.

#shopFranklin Photo Spotlight: Optimize Fitness & Performance

I recently visited with Devin Gray, owner of Optimize Fitness & Performance located in a 1,200 square foot facility at 33 Forge Hill Road in Franklin, MA.  Devin specializes in personal training, sports performance, and injury post-rehabilitation and was kind enough to let me observe one of his training classes for some photos.

Devin has a great attitude towards fitness that he applies to coaching which includes positive motivation and a calm style of encouragement that I could tell his clients appreciated.  In addition to personal coaching Optimize Fitness also offers a popular 6 week Kettle Bell Training course.  Kettle Bell fitness is a great way to improve your cardiovascular and muscular endurance through a combination of strength training and intense interval training.  You’ll also get both strong and lean and by the end of 6 weeks several participants are able to do their first-ever pushups!

For more information including class schedules, contact information and Devin’s fitness blog please visit www.optimizefp.com!

#shopFranklin: 2015 October Stroll

I was so excited when I realized that this year’s October Stroll was running until 8pm so after work I made a quick stop at home to grab my camera and headed downtown.  It was great to see so many local shops participating & lots of folks out & about on this crisp fall evening.  With music, face painting, crafts & a large variety of booths there was something for everyone!  I loved seeing old friends and also took the opportunity to meet some new ones while visiting some of the town’s newest businesses.  I look forward to visiting them again for their #shopFranklin photo spotlights!  Such a fun event presented by the wonderful Franklin Downtown Partnership. 🙂

#shopFranklin Photo Spotlight: Simon’s Furniture

Earlier this week I visited Simon’s, one of Franklin’s longest running businesses, located downtown on Summer Street.  Founded in 1911 by Abraham Simon this furniture shop is known for their quality home furnishings as well as outstanding customer service.  Five generations of the Simon family have continued this tradition and made Simon’s a sought after location to purchase not only furniture but a variety of appliances as well.

During my visit Jared Simon, son of Kirk Simon, was kind enough to show me around the showroom and explained the different stages of expansion over the years.  As the store grew through the 1920s a new store was built in 1927 which George Simon, Abraham’s grandson, began operating in the 1950s.  In the 1980s George’s son Kirk Simon joined the company and in 1993 the store added 10,000 square feet of showroom space and also moved the entrance to Summer Street in Franklin.  In 2004 Simon’s completed a state of the art warehouse also located in Franklin and added another 10,000 square feet of display space to the store.

During my tour Jared pointed out that almost every piece of furniture in the store can be customized- whether it’s the size, fabric choice, wood finish, or hardware option.  With so many choices one might get overwhelmed on what to select but fear not, Simon’s has a wonderful team of professional designers available at no extra cost to the customer to help you make the perfect selections.

In addition to furniture Simon’s also offers a large variety of mattresses and appliances.  An interesting fact about their selection of appliances is that every hour their software searches competitors pricing and automatically matches their price so you never have to worry about overpaying or visiting multiple stores in search of the best deal.  What a great concept!  Just another example of Simon’s keeping the customer’s best interests in mind.

If you’re feeling stressed lately or just need an exceptionally comfortable chair to sit in and watch a movie, read a book, or simply relax I suggest you visit Simon’s selection of Stressless® recliners.  These are not your typical recliners. They are meticulously designed to provide your body with the ultimate in comfort and support while sitting upright or reclining.  A friendly warning, once you sit in one you will not want to get up! 🙂

I was quite impressed with the variety of furniture Simon’s offers and couldn’t help but wish to furnish my entire home with their items.  For now, maybe I’ll start with a couch or nightstand!  Whether you’re looking to furnish your living room, dining room, bedroom, office, or basement I encourage you to visit Simon’s and browse their expansive showroom.  For more information including Simon’s hours, promotions, design tips and brands offered please visit their website www.simonfurniture.com.