National Company, Hometown Roots

Cherokee County residents in the market for a walk-in tub have a distinct advantage if they purchase a Boca walkin tub. While the Woodstock-based company has a national footprint – selling and installing tubs across the country – every facet of tub production runs through Boca’s local factory.

“From ownership, to office personnel, to the manufacturing process, all Boca employees are locally based,” Boca President Bruce Hollinger said. “In an industry that trends toward importing pre-manufactured parts while focusing only on sales, Boca takes pride in owning every step of its sales, production and shipping process.”

Boca opened its doors in 2008 as a family-owned business. While ownership changed in 2019, the business remains family-owned. The need for walk-in tubs has grown as the trend in senior housing has moved away from traditional assisted living toward homes and complexes that provide privacy and independence.

“Boca is committed to offering a tub that optimizes safety, cleanliness and therapy, and focuses on offering these solutions to those wishing to age in place,” said Internal Sales Manager Anna Nardone.

Happy Customers

The customer base has more than doubled since Hollinger, Matt Denis and Dominic Telymonde purchased the company. The goal is to continue to grow its dealer network and overall footprint of customers in the coming years. By focusing on its unique manufacturing and customization process, while continuing to stress top-tier customer service, Boca is eager to continue to provide a safe and luxurious bathing experience.

Common tub features such as the jetting system or light and aromatherapy are comforting, but Boca’s MICRO THERAPY system has been described as life-changing by several tub owners.

Most consumers research purchases online or through an inhome presentation, but Boca’s plant allows customers to see, testfit the sizes, and custom-build their tubs in person, with no need to open up their house until the day of installation.

“A recent purchaser called in just weeks after installation to rave about the instant improvement in her life,” Boca Installation Coordinator Alissa Robichaux said. “After years of struggling with rough and dead skin on her feet that had become difficult to live with, her condition was immediately improved, and MICRO THERAPY continues to be a staple of her bathing routine.”

Local residents can tour the factory by scheduling in-person appointments or simply walking in. Tub features and more information is available on the website, www.bocawalkintubs.com.

WHAT MAKES BOCA TUBS SPECIAL?

Low Threshold. The primary feature of all Boca tubs is a step threshold of 2 inches or less, which is far lower than the average clearance height for other brands on the market, according to Boca Vice President of Operations Matt Denis.

“While each tub from all manufacturers is unique, Boca is the only manufacturer producing tubs that can be installed onto a subfloor,” he said. “All other walk-in tubs sit on built-up frames. So while the exact step threshold varies with every tub, Boca is the only one able to promote a height of 2 inches since all others must be placed on top of a frame.”

Internal Frame Design. Boca is the only internal frame tub on the market, according to Hollinger. Each tub has a 1-inch steel rim around the top, and marine-grade, gel-coated fiberglass throughout. Building the tubs with an internal frame instead of placing them on an external frame allows the tubs to be installed directly onto the subfloor of most project sites, and adaptable to any floor plan. Most installations are completed within a day.

MICRO THERAPY System. An option for any Boca tub is the MICRO THERAPY system, which produces millions of microscopic bubbles that clean skin pores over the entire body, eliminating the need for scrubbing or shifting for anyone with mobility issues. It also serves as therapeutic treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema.

Fully Customizable. Seven sizes of tubs are offered, and each can be outfitted with features such as air and water jets, a rainfall showerhead attachment, a heated seat and even a built-in sound system, among many other options.

Longevity. With nearly 15 years in business, Boca’s owners are proud there are still Boca tubs in use from 2008 that have required only routine maintenance over their lifespan. All tubs come with a lifetime warranty, and the area around Woodstock is covered by fast and dependable locally based installers and service technicians.

Woodstock resident Anthony Sant’Anselmo grew up in Los Angeles, California, with a love for movies. He works as a “South Park” animator, and he is a writer and director. His father is co-creator of the ‘80s toy Teddy Ruxpin and he would take Anthony to his office on weekends — that’s where he found his love of writing.

Anthony completed a four-year project: turning his basement into an ‘80s video “store,” Mondo Video!, equipped with a kids section, home gym, kitchen and more. Get to know Anthony and what inspired him to start the project in Part 1 and look for Part 2 in the March issue.

Transforming My Basement Into an ‘80s Video Store

BY ANTHONY SANT’ANSELMO

When we drove our 26-foot moving truck into our new neighborhood one evening in 2017, fireworks were being shot high into the sky from almost every driveway. We felt that it was quite the welcoming committee from Woodstock. Of course, it was the Fourth of July, but, nevertheless, it was like that scene in a movie where the main characters finally reach their destination and all is well. My wife and I searched far and wide around Atlanta for the right home, in the right town. We wanted that idyllic, charming Southern downtown, with a real sense of community, but with the spoils of, perhaps, a Costco nearby. Little did we know, one would actually manifest a few years later! Stumbling upon Woodstock, however, we knew we had found something special.

Cut to Flashback Sequence:

I’ve loved movies as long as I can remember. I’m the kind of guy who would pause “Home Alone 2” and order, “a lovely cheese pizza just for me,” and eat it during the same time Macaulay Culkin ate his, to have a sort of 4D experience. (And, likewise, with the KFC scene in “Mr. Mom.”) As I’m writing this piece about taking a basement and creating something fun and over-the-top, it made me think back to the fourth grade, where I had to construct a volcano at home for a class project. My dad and I built the largest and, probably, most obnoxious volcano model ever made — complete with a surrounding town and residents being decimated by lava — like some scene from a ’70s or ’90s disaster movie. It took four people to carry it to the classroom.

Fast-forward to 2004; I commissioned one of my best friends, Martin Nilchian, to create a 360-degree “Goonies” mural on the bedroom walls of my apartment. As a massive fan, I had a specific vision of turning my room into a total cavern, where each wall would be dedicated to a scene from the film. The bedroom door was the bone organ, with the skeleton and piano keys — I still have that door! — and, upon entering, there were images of booby-trap boulders hanging from chains on one wall, a treasure chest and skeletons on another, a depiction of the pirate ship (The Inferno) and the waterfall chutes nearby. Shortly thereafter, I bought a black Jeep Cherokee and replicated the Fratellis’ getaway car in the film with “bullet holes the size o’ matzah balls” in the back. So, this fascination of getting as close to movies as possible, by using artistry and fabrication, has been an ongoing thing in my life.

Growing up on the West Coast, we didn’t really have basements, and it was important that our new house in Woodstock have one, so I could use it as a creative workspace. I’d had home offices before, but the thought of utilizing a basement was totally next level — and Fabienne wanted to take the lead on the direction of the main house, so it was a deal! I looked at the opportunity as a blank canvas to create something fun that would inspire me daily as a writer-director. But, the million-dollar question was, to create what exactly?

There are seven rooms in the basement, and I knew that certain areas needed to be functional: a production office, a gym and a home theater. Those became useful pretty quickly, but I had trouble figuring out what to do with the main room, initially thinking I’d use it as a movie prop area. Then, I pivoted to wanting to replicate “The Haunted Mansion” in that space. I started researching the proper wallpaper, lighting effects and items I’d need to help bring it together: candelabras, gothic furniture, even animatronic squawking crows. Still, it didn’t sit right, and simply would have been decor, rather than decor plus functionality.

When I got the idea to build an actual video “store,” it sounded like the most fun idea ever for the basement. When I was 5 years old, I knew I wanted to make movies — and nothing has changed. A lot of my earlier movie memories stemmed from the independent, mom-and-pop video shops that existed pre-Blockbuster Video. No two looked alike. They celebrated cinema, and there always was someone who knew something about the film you wanted to rent — no matter the genre.

The plan was to treat the project as if I were creating a movie set and really lean into the visual side of it. That way, my kids would know what a video store was kind of like, and I also could use it as a working set for my own film and video projects: ’80s tribute online accounts and a weekly movie podcast. (Because, there just aren’t enough movie podcasts already on YouTube!)

I wish I had footage of when I shared my glorious plans with Fabienne. Suffice it to say, she was supportive — with, maybe, a slight eye roll, ha ha. But, I could live with that, because I believed in myself! Even though I was embarking into the total unknown … OK, this is probably the part where I should cram in four years of building into a montage. (Cue super-rad ’80s song “Push It to the Limit” to pump up the underdog!) But, before I could take any sort of victory lap, I went through every DIY challenge — stay tuned for next month’s issue!

If you have a basement that is not being used to its full potential, ask yourself what your dream basement would be. It’s a blank slate to create something cool that inspires you daily, so make it count. Woodstock has the tools, materials and, if needed, craftsmen, to help you realize your goal. If you’re not sure how to achieve something, turn to YouTube, check out some tutorials, and learn by doing.

“In 2019, while at work, I received a phone call from my doctor confirming my pregnancy. I dropped to my knees and thanked God for the gift of motherhood. I had waited a long time to start my family,” Canton resident Kris Thompson said.

Like all expectant moms, Kris had dreamed of play dates, birthday parties, Santa visits and all the wonderful experiences that were ahead for her new family. Nothing had prepared her otherwise. But in September 2019, her little boy was born a month early, and from the moment he was born, everything was an emergency, Kris said.

“Benjamin was born unable to breathe, with a collapsed trachea, detached esophagus, bilateral blocked nasal cavities and clots in his brain. He coded often at the hospital. He was immediately taken to NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] before being transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), where he spent the first five months of his life,” Kris said.

Ben was diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome, a disorder that affects many areas of the body. Several of the features common in the disorder: coloboma, heart defects, atresia choanae (also known as choanal atresia), growth retardation, and inner and outer ear abnormalities that cause deafness and balance issues. Additionally, he showed signs of Dandy-Walker syndrome, a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum (an area of the back of the brain that coordinates movement).

The first five months of his life were spent at CHOA. He had 13 surgeries and was released to go home at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been in isolation ever since due to being diagnosed with an immune deficiency, which means he doesn’t build antibodies and is constantly sick.

“I thought I had been through a lot in my life, including much abuse and loss early in my own life. But compared to Ben, I really haven’t been through anything. He’s endured more in three years than most people in three lifetimes. It is hard enough to have a special-needs child, but caring for him with no help while the world is in complete isolation takes it to another level,” Kris said. “Our journey has been difficult and lonely. There isn’t one impairment; there are so many, and they all affect the other. Setbacks, infections, UTIs are all roadblocks for his progress.”

Today, at 3 years old, Ben cannot walk, talk or eat and is deaf and blind with many kidney, heart and immune deficiency issues requiring around-the-clock care. His impaired vision is worsening because he won’t tolerate his glasses and eye patching. He needs intensive speech therapy for feeding and communication as well as occupational and physical therapies, but therapies have been delayed because of constant sickness. Kris fights back tears when asked what is needed. “Benjamin is my full-time job, requiring every ounce of me. He needs uninterrupted therapies in order to make progress. Our funds have been depleted, and our marriage has been challenged. It is bigger than us at times. Deductibles, copays, medications and therapies add up quickly. There is so much that our son needs that we are unable to provide for him. We are determined to fight through these health challenges so that our sweet little boy can have a wonderful life,” she said. “He has come so far but has a long way to go.”

Benjamin and his family need encouragement. They need prayers, support and love to push them through this difficult season. They need our compassionate and caring community to rally behind them like we do so well.