The Connection

Charlie Boswell says “To make a long story short,” several times when he told the story of his family’s store, Color Wheel. But 50 years of being in business makes it difficult to compress the history of the McLean institution located in the Langley Shopping Center.

Color Wheel will hold an open house on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The store specializes in paints, wallpaper, window treatments, custom frames and custom bedding and upholstery.

THE BOSWELL FAMILY has owned it since 1965. Shelves of wallpaper books since the store’s beginning stand next to window blinds that open and close at the touch of a button.

“Fifty years ago, we would never have imagined you could operate shades and blinds remotely,” said Charlie.

Charlie was only 6 years old when his grandfather Earl Boswell, a professional painter and paper hanger, bought the paint and wallpaper store from a man who has only had it open for six months.

Earl liked the name and kept it. “He probably could not afford a new sign,” said Charlie.

The previous owner also did custom picture framing and taught Earl how to do it, as it was something to do in between customers. The framing department is now one of the busiest departments.

In the 1970s, the men’s store next door became available. An agreement with the landlord, the Smoot family of McLean, allowed Earl to try expanding the store rent-free for a few months. They sealed it with a handshake. Charlie said his grandfather was a “handshake kind-of-man.”

Earl and his wife, Nellie, passed the business to their son Charles, a Fairfax County police officer. Charles and his wife, Elisabeth, ran the business until they passed it to their children, Charlie and Renate Boswell Eschmann.

As the business expanded from one store to several stores over the years, so did the family. Charlie met his wife, Mary, in 1980 when she worked at the store.

“Family business often involves spouses,” said Charlie. “When you leave work, you talk about work at home.”

Color Wheel added locations in Shady Grove in Maryland, Vienna and Fairfax. It also dabbled in art galleries a few times. Only the McLean and Fairfax stores exist today.

Charlie marks the store’s history not with exact dates but with the people who have worked there and became part of his extended family. “My best memory of the store are the people who worked here,” he said.

In 2014 Color Wheel underwent a financial restructuring and had to downsize several long-term employees, such as general manager Jacinta Porto, a 40-year employee, and Eric Crowe, who worked as the paint department manager for 17 years.

“I miss them to this day,” said Charlie.

The store continues to evolve as the market and customers’ needs change.

PLANS for what to do in the old gallery space is in the works but still under wraps. They have also switched the home decor department from an in-store model to an in-home type of service. Charlie and Mary’s daughter Kimberleigh works as the store’s interior designer and does a lot of in-home consultation with customers.

Charlie said that what makes Color Wheel different from big box stores is that customers get not just a product but service and knowledge. The typical customer? Someone looking for something special.

For Charlie, the store was more than just a way to make a living for his family. “It’s about the special relationship with customers,” he said.

The store is located on 1374 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. The Fairfax branch is located at 2802-D Merrilee Drive, Fairfax. Light refreshments will be served at at both locations during the open house.