We like our stories kind of like Humpty likes his beats – funky (for the record, we also like our oatmeal lumpy). The quirkier, the better. That unique flavor has led to some rather curious pitches from readers in our inbox over the years. Like this email we received from Jim Taber a few weeks back.
“I think you should document the best garage restroom in Concord – framed art, flowers, it’s magnificent,” Taber said. “At the Meineke garage on Loudon Road.”
Like any good bulldog reporter, we chased down this juicy news tip. Hey, we’re here to give the people what they want, even if what they want is in-depth bathroom coverage.
Lo and behold, the bathroom was rather magnificent.
We felt a little odd walking to the counter at a busy garage and asking not to use the bathroom, but just to look at it. Thankfully, the restroom is something of a frequent topic of conversation at this particular location.
“Customers are always commenting on it,” said Greg Masewic, owner of the shop. “A lot of people say ‘it’s cleaner than my bathroom at home.’ ”
Um, guilty.
Seriously, this thing is virtually spotless. Framed pictures of flowers hang on the wall next to the commode, there’s a lovely wooden cabinet on the wall behind it, complete with potted springy flowers and accent items, and there’s a chocolate-colored wooden table stationed opposite the sink showcasing sprouting grass and other springtime delights.
There was probably more nature in this public restroom than the entire city of Detroit.
So how does it stay so beautiful? Masewic and his employees take tremendous pride in keeping it that way. He has decorated the restroom since he opened the shop 13 years ago, stopping at Target or Michaels – “nothing fancy,” he said.
We beg to differ. The decor even changes with the seasons. Masewic said he’ll flip the script depending on the time of year, adding Christmasy items in winter and things like foliage and pumpkins and rich colors in the fall.
“It’s kind of like the Bellagio Arboretum. It’s the same thing, except we’re four or five million short” of the budget used by the celebrated Las Vegas site, Masewic said.
That’s not the only beauty the bathroom has been compared to. Our emailer Taber offered the following: “I found this little hidden Shangri La of a spot in a busy garage!”
It was certainly a unique photo assignment. We’ve had shoots that cast us in eyebrow-raising light before – it was super hard not to look like a major creeper taking pictures of children playing in public pools for our pool issue a few years back – but tossing open the door to a restroom in a tiny waiting area full of people and snapping glamour shots definitely ranks up there.
But the bathroom proved more than worthy. It stays pristine due to the fact that the staff cleans it several times each day – and we can testify to the fact that a broom was still resting in the corner when we entered (though Masewic promptly removed it to create a more photogenic atmosphere). The only obvious sign of use was that the toilet seat was up.
It’s most definitely not what you’d expect at a garage.
“That’s exactly why we do it,” Masewic said. “I feel like when you come to an auto shop, it should be like a dentist’s office or a doctor’s office – it should be nice. You shouldn’t have to sit in grease just because your car is getting fixed.”
The bathroom is for customers, of course, so don’t go starting a line there just to catch a peek. But if you happen to be in need of car repair and a quick powdering of the nose, you’ll have a hard time finding a prettier place to do both.
Unless your neighbor happens to be a mechanic and interior decorator.
“When you go into a public bathroom, it’s rare to find one you are actually comfortable using,” Masewic said. “We want to make it feel like you’re in someone’s home.”
