Apr 29, 2007

Family brings out ‘best’ in Burlingame; Bensons have history of charitable giving, civic involvementBy Aaron KinneyInsideBayArea.com

Burlingame — What does it take to be the “Best of Burlingame?”

How about owning a retail store that’s been in business since 1915 and has a history of civic involvement and a steady record of charitable giving.

The Benson family was honored by the Burlingame City Council this month for their stewardship of The Studio Shop on Primrose Road, the longest-running retail store in the city.

John and Martha Benson bought the store in 1955 after John left his job in South San Francisco as a middle school shop and industrial arts teacher. The couple gradually transformed the gift and card shop into the framing and art store it is today.

The couple has turned the ownership of the store over to their daughter Janet Benson Martin and her husband Carl. Kristen Benson, Janet’s sister, runs the gallery.

“They just set a really good example,” Carl Martin said. “They worked hard their whole lives (and) they participated in the community.”

They were newcomers to Burlingame when they came here, and they really just kind of dug right in and made it home,” Martin added.

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