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Farrars mark one year as owners of Murray’s Glass and Automotive Paints

Photo by Chad Plauche-Adkins Dennis Farrar cuts a piece of glass at Murray’s Glass on Front Street.

MARIETTA — When Dennis and Ron Farrar decided to purchase Murray’s Glass and Automotive Paints on Front Street last year, they did it not only to provide people and businesses in Washington County with premiere glass service, but to help revitalize an establishment with which they have had a long history.

The Farrar brothers both worked at the store for 14 years until 2013, when they purchased Oesterle Auto Glass in Parkersburg. But Dennis Farrar said when the opportunity to take over Murray’s presented itself a year ago, he knew he wanted to rebuild the brand that had been a staple on Front Street for decades.

“We’re trying to get Murray’s to what it used to be,” he said. “It’s been quite a year.”

Dennis said that some in the community had begun to lose faith in the service Murray’s provided, but under his family’s guidance, he knows they can rebuild the business that had been one of the cornerstones in Marietta’s downtown.

“We are redeveloping old relationships and building new ones,” he said.

The store provides custom glass for residential, commercial and automotive needs. Dennis said his shop also provides services that are not only exclusive in the county, but in the region.

“We have a glass polisher for the edges of the glass, making it not need a frame,” he said.

Dennis said his shop is the only one in three states that can do that kind of work in-house. He also said Murray’s was teaming up with Sir Speedy Printing in Parkersburg to provide printing on glass.

“It’s a unique way to get your message and logo out there,” he said.

He said the option is great for commercial customers who want to get their information and logo on their storefront at the same time they put in new windows.

Dennis said it took two months of elbow grease to put a shine back on the exterior and interior of the business.

“People would come in and actually think we remodeled,” he said. “It’s amazing what some cleaning and a coat of paint can do.”

Dennis said he even received a letter from the Rotary Club about how much better the building looked after he took over.

Dennis said a lot of the success of the business can be attributed to all the employees who work there, especially his family. Dennis’ sister Kathy is in charge of the office at Oesterle, and his sister Shari Salvatore runs the front desk at Murray’s. Salvatore said she likes working with her family, even though they know her deepest and darkest secrets.

“It’s been really great, very comfortable to work with my family…Even when he threatens to show people old pictures of me,” she laughed.

For more information about what glass services Murray’s Glass provides, visit its website at murraysglass.com or call 740-373-7538.

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A Glance at Murray’s Glass

* Location: 151 Front St.

* Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

* For information: Call 740-373-7538 or visit murraysglass.com

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