753 W Main St

"Open wide!” That’s a phrase patients have heard here for more than 40 years. During that time this beautiful Federal-style two-story building has served the community as a dental office. But that’s not the whole story. When Dr. Robert Wall first opened his practice in the 1970s, he decided to live upstairs. Now that wasn’t a new idea. In fact, when this building was constructed in the 1850s, it was customary for business owners to live above their shops. Instead of driving long hours back and forth to work, they only had to walk up and down a flight of stairs.

Recently, two new dentists, Dr. Lauren Spencer and her husband, Dr. Alex Marti, took over Dr. Wall’s practice and decided to continue the tradition. With the help of family and friends, they rolled up their sleeves and transformed the upstairs into a beautiful Euro-style apartment. And that’s a decision has kept both dentists smiling. Not only are they just a few steps from their business, but also within walking distance of restaurants, shops, parks, the river and hiking and biking trails. These live-work units seem to be the perfect fit for today’s entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals. What once was old is new again.