BY SYBILLE C. DENNINGER
Welcome to our second edition of Feature Friday, this time featuring
Ben's Wallpaper & Paint!
Upon entering the store for my interview I received a friendly greeting from the store owners' son Jason Mitchell, that's Jason on the right, and store manager of 22 years Jeff (left in the photo).
They proudly provided me with a lot of great information about the store, which Jason's parents Bonnie and Joseph Mitchell have owned and operated for 42 years now. For the past 18 years Ben's has been located at 6 Railroad Avenue in the heart of downtown Gloucester. Behind the store is a parking lot with 20 spots along with another entrance. Anyone who shops downtown will realize that this is a HUGE plus because parking is hard to come by. Ben's opens early at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday to accommodate contractors and professional painters who can shop for their paint and supplies before heading out to their work sites. They are also open on Saturdays. Along with their convenient hours and location, Ben's offers a huge, well organized selection of all merchandise related to painting. Brushes in all shapes and sizes, specialty power tools, wallpaper, stains, lacquers and specialty coatings. This is absolutely a 1-stop shop and Jason pointed out that they try to carry a well-rounded inventory for their customers.
Of course paint is a huge seller at their store with Benjamin Moore paint being the primary brand sold. Custom colors are mixed to order while you wait, and they can also match any other manufacturer's color. I have painted my entire house with Benjamin Moore paint from Ben's, enjoying the expert advice and perfectly mixed and matched colors (I'm still one of those "every room a different color" people haha). They work closely with local realtors, and with Varian and Gorton's Seafood, two major Gloucester businesses.
One lesser known fact is that Ben's also does window treatments. Their well trained team visits your home for a consultation, measures the windows and installs the window treatments you pick from a large sample selection of styles and fabrics. Consultation and installation are FREE!
Jason and Jeff told me about the importance Ben's places on community involvement. They generously donate supplies and assistance to the local YMCA as well as City of Gloucester youth programs and other worthy projects. Ben's also recently gifted the Magnolia Library and the Gloucester High School theater with materials. I loved hearing that because it clearly shows that when you shop locally and support your hometown businesses, they are then in the position to give back to their community as Ben's is consistently doing.
I greatly enjoyed my visit and chat with Jason and Jeff. Before I hopped back in my car I just had to take a quick snapshot of the awesome mural at the back entrance, and another of the side of the building where it looks like painters are hard at work. What could be more fitting?
Ben's Wallpaper & Paint
6 Railroad Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
978-283-6541
e-mail: sales@benspaint.com
Store Hours Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
