ORIENTAL – Family-owned small businesses are the backbone of America, especially when second generation owners carry on customer relationships originally forged by their fathers.
Brantley Norman, Jr. – along with his mother, daughter, and plenty of family members — now handles the reins of Brantley’s Village Restaurant.
“Our restaurant faces west and it is a ‘poster child’ for sunsets that beam heat and sunlight into three large windows along the front,” explained Brantley, Jr.
His decision for new window tinting was easy – he would call upon the original installer – Advanced Window Tinting of New Bern, first summoned by his father Brantley Norman, Sr. decades ago.
Back then, Jay Phillips III quickly showed up and did a great job. This time Jay Phillips IV made the trek, equipped with all the tricks of his trade! He wields a mean, top-of-the-line squeegee. He also sports a holster for a pressurized spray-gun that spurts an aerosol of pure water mixed with Johnson’s Baby Shampoo – just the thing to tame sometimes cranky window film!
Clearly experienced, Jay and his associate, Cedric, did not dally. Within minutes, the convoluted and taxing installation was well underway. Anyone in their right mind could see numerous chances for foul-ups. However, the young men made a job fraught with potential difficulties look almost easy.
Brantley, Jr. and Jay IV had an instant camaraderie – bantering back and forth throughout the July 8 install. This reporter had a quick question of Jay IV, as he wrapped things up: “Was this a work of art, or just a regular install?”
“Both,” replied Phillips. “These are skills you learn when you have been doing it for almost your entire life!”
Brantley and Jay are now thankful to follow in the big footsteps of their fathers – first generation small business owners who made things just a wee bit easier for their sons.
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