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Local Voices

Local Family-Run Businesses Celebrate at Family Fall Festival Butcher Boy Market and Rogers Spring Hill Farm Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Jaffarian Volvo Toyota, one of Massachusetts' oldest family-run automotive businesses


 
 
Jaffarian Volvo Toyota recently joined an elite group of family-run businesses in the nation by achieving 75 years in business. As one of Massachusetts’ oldest family-run automotive businesses, Jaffarian is led by third and fourth generation family members. According to an internationally recognized scholar in the field of family business, Dr. Joseph Astrachan, Ph.D, only 3 percent of family-run businesses in the United States are run by a fourth generation, 10 percent make it to a third generation, and 30 percent make it to a second generation.
 
In recognition of reaching the 75-year milestone, the City of   Haverhill presented the family with a special citation. At the ceremony, Mayor James J. Fiorentini thanked the Jaffarian  family for their ongoing generosity and commitment to the
city.
 
To celebrate this great accomplishment of 75 years of service, the Jaffarian family of Haverhill planned a Family Fall Festival, including two other family-run businesses with deep roots in the area:  Rogers Spring Hill Farm and Butcher Boy Market.  All three family businesses contributed to the festivities of the Fall Festival that took place at Jaffarian Volvo Toyota on Saturday, October 19.
 
Together, these three renowned Merrimack Valley businesses represent close to 250 years and 11 generations of families working together: 
 
Rogers Spring Hill Farm – 111 years in business and 4 generations;
Jaffarian Volvo Toyota – 75 years in business and 4 generations;
Butcher Boy – 58 years in business and 3 generations.
 
The Family Fall Festival offered something for everyone including a live band called Four on the Floor, an official Toyota NASCAR Pace car, a “race car-themed” bounce house, an antique Toyota and Volvo car exhibit of vehicles restored by Jaffarian, face painting, pumpkin painting provided by family members of Rogers Spring Hill Farm, and a special cookout featuring Butcher Boy hot dogs and hamburgers grilled to perfection by members of the Butcher Boy family.
 
“This is a celebration of family and family business and we are thrilled that these two great family-run businesses joined us,” said 3rd generation Gary Jaffarian, president and CEO of Jaffarian Volvo Toyota. “Like us, they each exemplify a family run business that offers quality products and services to their customers. Rogers Spring Hill has done the dealerships' flowers for years and we have done business with Butcher Boy both personally and in co-marketing efforts for years as well.  When these two family businesses said yes to the Family Fall Festival I knew we’d have a great event for families to enjoy!”
 
Gary Jaffarian’s grandparents, Fred Jaffarian, the first Armenian-American born in Haverhill, and his wife, Alice, started the family business in 1938 as a gas station and eventually Gary’s father, Richard , worked there after school as he learned on the job how to fix cars.  Gary (third generation) always dreamed of running the family business from an early age when he would hitchhike there after school to sweep the floors and clean the bathrooms.
 
In 1958, Richard Jaffarian was responsible for introducing Volvo of Sweden to the region.  Just a few years later in 1962, when an unusual, tank-like vehicle rolled into the station, Richard was so impressed with the truck’s quality that he took a chance and began selling Toyota Land Cruisers.   Just last year, Jaffarian Toyota, one of New England’s original Toyota dealerships, celebrated 50 years in business.
 
Today, the third and fourth generation Jaffarian family members include Mark, who manages the Collision Center; Gary, who is the president and CEO; and Gary’s son Gavin (4th generation), who leads the Volvo Service team. For more information please visit www.jaffarian.com
 

 

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