GRAND FRAME

Matt and Christina Grana continue a family legacy of fine craftsmanship and community service.

Gary Grana was just 17 years old when he launched Grand Frame, his custom picture framing shop in Arlington Heights. After his mom opened the doors each morning while he was at school, Gary took over in the afternoons and closed up at day’s end. This bold move by a high school senior laid the framework for a successful family business.

Gary later brought his wife, Carrie, into the business, and the two became partners in both work and life. Now, a little over half a century since its doors opened, Grand Frame is helmed by the next generation—Gary’s son, Matt, and his wife, Christina.

Having built his first custom picture frame at just three years old, Matt spent nearly every Saturday and countless afternoons learning the ins and outs of the family business. Inspired by his parents’ example and the thriving shop they built, it isn’t surprising that Matt wished to carry their legacy forward.

What came next, however, was anything but expected. Christina, who spent nearly 20 years in retail store management, joined the family business in August of 2020—right in the middle of the pandemic. “With our young daughter learning from home, we figured it was the perfect time for me to start learning the ropes,” she recalls.

The challenges of a changing world brought the family closer, strengthening both their bond and their business. With collaboration at the heart of their craft, they bounce ideas off each other, feed off shared creative energy, and revel in every project’s transformation.

“It’s so awesome to see the final product come to life,” says Christina. “Now our daughter Claire, who is 11, is in the shop learning from us—and some customers even ask for her help with the final picture framing decision!”

With the whole family involved, the momentum for expansion began to build. In 2023, the Granas opened their second store, bringing their passion, creativity, and community-first spirit to their hometown of Barrington. “We stumbled upon this little brick building on Main Street and decided to take a chance,” Christina recalls. “Our store here is just the cutest local picture frame shop—customers often comment on how cozy it feels inside.”

Grand Frame isn’t just a frame shop—it’s a creative hub where art, precision, and community come together. “Our family has specialized in everything from museum-quality preservation and printing on canvas, metal, and acrylic to designing one-of-a-kind shadowboxes, mirrors, and 3D displays,” Matt explains. “We collaborate with local artists, partner with designers, and even curate in-home gallery walls—because if it involves framing, we’ve done it and loved every minute.”

From visiting customers’ homes to helping design the perfect gallery wall to printing and framing treasured family photos, Grand Frame brings every vision to life. They stretch canvas art onto stretcher bars, frame needlepoint projects, and showcase stained glass art. “One of our recent favorite projects was an Irish dancing dress—framed double-sided and seemingly floating between two panes of glass,” Christina shares.

Their in-house specialty is sports jerseys, carefully preserved in custom shadowboxes. They also partner with corporate clients to display art throughout their workplaces. From major projects with the Metropolis Theatre, as well as creating retirement shadowboxes at the downtown Arlington Heights police department, Grand Frame’s work is also found in the public sector. “We hope to do the same for our Barrington community as we’ve already started to help outfit the soon-to-be restored Catlow Theatre,” Matt says.

But what truly sets the shop apart? The relationships built over more than 50 years. “Our clients return not just for craftsmanship but for the friendship—whether they’re framing a new treasure or just stopping by to share stories,” Christina says. “After all, the best frames hold more than art—they hold connections.”

Driven by a passion for their craft and a dedication to their customers, Matt and Christina are always seeking new ways to evolve and elevate Grand Frame. They are eager to open a third location next year and are actively searching for the perfect community to grow into.

With fewer custom picture framers in the industry today, the Granas are proud to carry on the tradition, combining expert technique with innovative ideas. From one-of-a-kind requests to timeless classics, they aim to exceed expectations, one project at a time.

“We would be nothing without our team of picture framing experts including a seamstress, a college professor in print making, a super talented oil and acrylic artist, a previous frame shop owner, two dynamic and skilled salespeople, and our very own Gary Grana for helping with the very complex projects,” says Christina.

“When you shop with us, you’ll experience trust, kindness, and true expertise,” says Matt.

Grand Frame, Inc. is located at 235 E. Main Street in Barrington and 209 S. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights, grandframeinc.com, @grandframeinc.