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Times Union, NY
July 7 2005
Being mayor puts dent in the business
Harry Tutunjian lacks time to work in family's shop so it's on the
market
By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, July 7, 2005
TROY -- Harry Tutunjian's been a little too busy lately to bang out
the dents in people's cars.
As a result, Naz's Auto Body -- the Brunswick business he ran for his
father -- is now for sale.
Just over the Troy border, the body shop is actually part of a 3-acre
property that is on the market for $1.9 million, the mayor said. It
is being sold by his parents, Naz and Joan Tutunjian.
"My parents have worked very hard their whole lives," the mayor said.
"The business was operated by my father and myself. I since got
another job."
The shop has been open only sporadically since Tutunjian took office
in January 2004. He had tried to find a manager for it, but he was
unable to do so.
"My employee at the time didn't want to operate the shop," he said.
"I was forced to temporarily suspend the business."
The shop is still licensed and insured, and the mayor said he still
goes up there on rare occasions. His father is retired but is known
to fix a car or two occasionally.
"We still enjoy the luxury of having a fully equipped shop to tinker
around in," said the mayor, who often cited his experience running
the business in his 2003 campaign.
"It's not just the house and the body shop," he said. "It's a
significant parcel on Hoosick Street. If no one comes forward, I
might develop the property myself."
He noted business on the stretch of Hoosick Street has been tough due
to road construction that has lasted years.
"With all the construction on Hoosick Street, if we were in business,
we'd probably be suffering," he said. "That's a real concern for
everybody."
His father, an Armenian immigrant, had mixed emotions about putting
the shop that enabled him to support his family up for sale, Harry
Tutunjian said. Naz was an avid supporter of his son's campaign,
driving around in a car with a sign atop it.
"As much as I'd like to go there and pound out some dents, I just
don't have the time to do it," the mayor said.
July 7 2005
Being mayor puts dent in the business
Harry Tutunjian lacks time to work in family's shop so it's on the
market
By TIM O'BRIEN, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, July 7, 2005
TROY -- Harry Tutunjian's been a little too busy lately to bang out
the dents in people's cars.
As a result, Naz's Auto Body -- the Brunswick business he ran for his
father -- is now for sale.
Just over the Troy border, the body shop is actually part of a 3-acre
property that is on the market for $1.9 million, the mayor said. It
is being sold by his parents, Naz and Joan Tutunjian.
"My parents have worked very hard their whole lives," the mayor said.
"The business was operated by my father and myself. I since got
another job."
The shop has been open only sporadically since Tutunjian took office
in January 2004. He had tried to find a manager for it, but he was
unable to do so.
"My employee at the time didn't want to operate the shop," he said.
"I was forced to temporarily suspend the business."
The shop is still licensed and insured, and the mayor said he still
goes up there on rare occasions. His father is retired but is known
to fix a car or two occasionally.
"We still enjoy the luxury of having a fully equipped shop to tinker
around in," said the mayor, who often cited his experience running
the business in his 2003 campaign.
"It's not just the house and the body shop," he said. "It's a
significant parcel on Hoosick Street. If no one comes forward, I
might develop the property myself."
He noted business on the stretch of Hoosick Street has been tough due
to road construction that has lasted years.
"With all the construction on Hoosick Street, if we were in business,
we'd probably be suffering," he said. "That's a real concern for
everybody."
His father, an Armenian immigrant, had mixed emotions about putting
the shop that enabled him to support his family up for sale, Harry
Tutunjian said. Naz was an avid supporter of his son's campaign,
driving around in a car with a sign atop it.
"As much as I'd like to go there and pound out some dents, I just
don't have the time to do it," the mayor said.