User:Carlstudio/sandbox

The Studio Shop is an art gallery and picture frame shop in Burlingame, CA. It was founded in 1915 and is the oldest retail store in Burlingame. It has been operated by two families since being founded by photographer Dorothy Crawford and her husband Ralph Crawford in 1915. John and Martha Benson purchased the business in 1955 and today it is operated by the Benson's daughters Janet Martin and Kristen Benson and Janet’s husband Carl Martin.

Dorothy Crawford became a popular portrait photographer in the area as Burlingame grew from a village to a full-blown suburb. In 1925 the Crawfords purchased property at 311 Primrose where they planned to build a new Studio Shop according to Ralph’s English Tudor design. He was a trained engineer and had worked for a time as the Burlingame City Engineer. Unfortunately, Ralph died before completion of the building, of leukemia in 1929. Dorothy completed the building in 1931 and moved The Studio Shop there that same year. She worked another 13 years before contracting Parkingson’s disease and retiring in 1944. Dorothy’s niece and brother ran the business until 1955 when they sold it to John and Martha Benson. In 1955 John Benson was a high school shop teacher, between jobs and with a young family to support. He saw a classified ad in the Chronicle for a picture frame business for sale and borrowed $500 from his father-in-law for the down payment. John and Martha took over the Studio Shop at 311 Primrose Road and maintained the high quality picture framing and gift items that Dorothy Crawford had established.

The Bensons quickly settled into the community of Burlingame. John joined the Lions Club and worked with the Boy Scouts. Martha served the town of Burlingame on the Civil Service Commission and the Beautification Commission. In 1979 Martha wrote a book about the trees of Burlingame. In 1989 the Bensons were recognized for their years of service to the community by being awarded jointly the Burlingame Citizen of the Year award.

Naturally, the three Benson daughters grew up surrounded by art and picture framing and would have part-time high school jobs working in the store cleaning glass and fitting picture frames together. In 1972, when daughters Janet and Kristen were at BIS and Mills High School, the Bensons moved the shop to 1180 Carolan Ave. This is where John applied his creativity to building a parade float on his Rambler station wagon for the Burlingame Days Parade photographed on the cover of the calendar.

In 1988 John and Martha moved the shop again, this time to 741 San Mateo Avenue behind the Mrs. Bubbles laundromat near Oak Grove. Janet started working with them full-time and began adding more art and prints to the gallery. Janet and her husband Carl had two small children and were able to rent a house next door to the Studio Shop so that Janet could divide her time between home and work, even home schooling her two boys while making picture frames.

1995 was a big move for The Studio Shop when Janet and Carl saw a vacant storefront at 1103 Burlingame Avenue which they imagined as a wonderful gallery space with high ceilings and tall windows. The Mission revival building has loads of 1930’s charm with colorful tiles and wrought iron balconies. This was in the day when the Avenue was much less glamorous, before Starbucks and Pottery Barn had even arrived, and they were able to negotiate an affordable lease. Carl was a contractor at the time and so was able to do the design and remodelling of the new space at 1103 Burlingame Avenue. The new gallery space and improved visibility helped the business grow rapidly. Kristen rejoined the shop as art and frame designer and employees were hired. Business was booming and Janet and Kristen needed some help managing the growing pains so Carl offered to help them for one year in 1997 to get things organized. He wound up staying permanently and now manages the administrative side of the business.

Into the late 90s all of the picture frames were still being made by hand in the back of 1103 Burlingame Ave., a 1200 square foot space. All moulding was cut on a foot operated chopper and joined the traditional way with hammer and nails. Carl introduced new technology to the picture frame fabrication with the purchase of an industrial miter saw and pneumatic joiner, and rented an 800 square feet warehouse space for the workshop, which later doubled to 1600 square feet. After 10 years at 1103 Burlingame Avenue it was time to move again.

The move to 244 Primrose in 2004 gave the Studio Shop the opportunity to build another new and improved art gallery and frame design studio. This gallery was again expanded in 2013 by renting the space next door.

In 2008 the Studio Shop Annex was opened to offer an expanded range of picture framing and house the entire production facility in one space encompassing 3700 square feet.

Today, the Studio Shop is run by Janet, Kristen and Carl along with a staff of eight employees. Without the wonderful staff The Studio Shop would not be possible. They all wear many hats including art consultant, frame designer, art installer, master framer, frame builder and digital technician.

When Janet is not designing a picture frame job or planning the next art show she is volunteering in the community by serving as President of the Hillsborough Auxilliary to Peninsula Family Service, helping raise funds to aid children, families and the elderly in our community. She also serves on the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Commission.

Kristen volunteers her time with the Redwood City schools where she has taught art and is currently helping in the reading program.

Carl is completing his term as president of the Northern California chapter of the Professional Picture Framers Association which promotes education and professional standards in the picture framing industry.

While The Studio Shop has evolved in 100 years to incorporate technology in the craft of art and picture framing, the traditional values of workmanship and beautiful design remain the same.