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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper September 2017 Page 11
Thurmont Institutes New Business Local European Auto Shop — Continued from page 1

Award equipment, construction, marketing, always been car guys. Growing up, on
management—and everything the weekends we’d go to race events,
Thurmont has instituted a new business award to recognize businesses you can imagine—to fine-tune the car shows, work on building cars, and
that receive awards, or receive special recognitions that make Thurmont business for profit. travel for parts and old vintage stuff.”
proud. The name of the award: You Make Thurmont Proud! The first two Even though Chris thought it Eurotech Classics focuses on the
recipients of the “You would be cool to be on television one restoration of European cars and
Make Thurmont Proud” day, he didn’t work towards that. His everyday maintenance of newer
Award is Gateway Liquors business partner and brother, Marc European autos. Chris was away from
and Thurmont Child Care Stephens, saw a Facebook post where the shop for about eight months for
Center, Inc. the Discovery Network was seeking filming all across the country when
Gateway Liquors successful shop owners to co-host the show was picked up, so they’ve
received the “You Make a new Discovery Channel idea. The narrowed their scope of service to
Thurmont Proud” award brothers applied individually. Neither allow his travel, with Marc running
for their accolade in the knew what Discovery was looking for, the shop by himself. Locally, their goal
2017 Frederick Magazine’s so they filmed some Skype interviews, is to cultivate a life-time customer
Best of the Best Reader’s showing their shop and giving their with their service philosophy and
Choice Awards, and was background and history. Chris was clean shop.
voted “Best Liquor Store in contacted to do the pilot for the show. With the televised debut of Garage
Frederick County!” Chris feels this is an opportunity Rehab, they anticipate that people
to give back to society, “It’s such a will want to see their shop, and car
(right) Pictured from left are Mayor good feeling to be able to help others, enthusiasts will want to see what cars
John Kinnaird; Bill Buehrer; Wes owner to owner,” he explained, “I they have, talk about their cars, and
Hamrick; and Maggie Doll, owner of
Gateway Liquors. know what it’s like to run a business, explain their cars. Chris and Mark
especially when it’s down, cause I’ve are planning a car show get-together
been down, too.” this fall at the Eurotech Classics.
“Sometimes shop owners are They welcome residents in Thurmont,
Courtesy Photos
hard-headed, sometimes they have too Frederick County, and surrounding
Thurmont Child much clutter around the shop, or it’s areas to visit.
Care Center, Inc. was poorly lit. Sometimes a shop owner To watch Garage Rehab wherever
presented the “You Make is making a little money, but could you go, install the Discovery Go
Thurmont Proud” Award, be making a lot more,” stated Chris. app on your device. Visit discovery.
as they were voted one This series helps the owners become com for more information about
of the five awardees in successful and educates garage Garage Rehab. Visit eurotechclassics.
the 2017 “Best Places owner viewers about how to become com or call 240-288-7998 for
To Work” in Frederick successful as well. more information about Eurotech
County. Thurmont Nine garages were rehabbed in Classics.
Child Care Center, Inc. the ten episodes that will air this fall
won the small business in season one. The final episode will
category. The Frederick look back to review the progress of
County Best Places to each shop. The nine shops helped in
Work Awards campaign the Garage Rehab series have had
is a county-wide program immediate results from their rehab.
to increase quality “The garage needs to be clean and tidy
of life opportunities with service that is consistent. You
(above) Pictured from left are Mayor John Kinnaird; Bill don’t want to show a bunch of junk
Buehrer; Wes Hamrick; and Kathy Toomey, owner of Thurmont for Frederick County
Child Care Center, Inc. employees. The awards are cars sitting around,” explained Chris.
sponsored by Frederick Chris and Marc started their
County Work Force Services, the Frederick Chamber, Frederick County business, Eurotech Classics, in 2003
Office of Economic Development, and Thrive Frederick. in Jefferson, Maryland. They moved
the business to downtown Frederick,
on East Church Street, in 2010.
Play our Where Am I? and Hidden Object games and Test Business was going well in Frederick,
Your Word Power on page 9. but the brothers needed more outdoor
space and found it in Thurmont
where they rehabbed their own shop
space to reflect their goal of customer
satisfaction.
The Stephens brothers grew up
in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Chris’ first car was a 1975 Porsche
914 that he bought when he was
fifteen years old. It took him two
years to restore it. By the time he
was twenty, his brother Marc was
a Volkswagen Master Certified
Technician, and Chris was taking
business classes at Montgomery
College. When faced with the choice
to attend a university or to open a
shop, they opened their shop. Chris
said, “Being true car guys, there’s no
room for sports or other stuff. We’ve