Insurance Agent Moves Office into Business District

 

By Jonathan Weaver

A Kittanning-based insurance agency has moved its office downtown.

John F. Graff Insurance now owns 213 Market Street -the former Adams Jewelers (owned by Kevin and Phyllis Adams) that closed last year.

In late-January, Graff met with Kevin about his plans for the building and that began the process.

“I had been looking for a building for probably the past seven or eight years and couldn’t find the right one. Market Street was my target area, but there wasn’t anything available that suited my office until I saw the “Going Out of Business Sale” at the jewelry store,” Graff said.

The process then quickened until the November move.

“We closed on the building the 21st of June and started the renovation in late-August,” Graff said. “Finished up in mid-October and moved in three weeks ago (today).

“I really enjoy our new space –we were running out of room,” he continued. “This gives us quite-a-bit more room and storage downstairs for our old files in the basement. Everything’s better organized now.”

The 1986 Kittanning Senior High graduate attended Washington and Jefferson College and went into insurance amid his father – Peter’s - attempts to steer him out of the field. Peter had an agency for nearly-40 years

John associated with other agents in Vandergrift and Ford City before opening his own office 17 years ago June 1 behind the now-Sprankle’s Market and then 162 North Jefferson – his former location, and the former home of H&R Block, a baseball card shop and one of his father’s former locations.

“I think this is probably the final destination for me,” Graff said.

Graff isn’t sure what the space - “a neat location with a lot of traffic” – will be, but said it would be good for a number of businesses.

A sign was hung in the former location and mailers were sent to client residents.

A former football coach at Armstrong Central and Kittanning Senior High – who also applied for the head coaching job three years ago - Graff, his wife and three children live on Hazel Street – beside where his father grew up.

“Like my father was to me, I think I’ll try to steer them away from the insurance agency. It’s changed a lot in the last 22 years, and I see it changing even more in the next 22,” Graff said.

“But, if its something they absolutely wanted, hopefully it will be available for them.”
Graff will host a customer appreciation event from 5-9PM tonight during Kittanning Light-Up festivities for clients