The captivating logo representing Shahid Painting and Decorating, speaking volumes about the reality of legacy, was on full display October 29th during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the company’s new office at 1622 South Broadway Street in St. Louis.
The company’s owner, Mellve Shahid Jr., was humbled by the ribbon cutting fuss, a gesture that family and friends had been pushing him to do for a long time.
“It was surprising. I wasn’t expecting it,” he says. “Everyone was telling me that I should do it, and that it was long overdue. I was happy they got it done.”
Shahid Painting and Decorating, which has been in business for seven years, specializes in maintenance painting for commercial customers such as schools, businesses and apartment complexes.
The company’s logo, which graces the window at the new office, portrays the likeness of a bird looking back at its tail with a paint brush dripping paint. The logo depicts the symbolic Sankofa Bird, a principle derived from the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa that one should remember the past to make positive progress in the future. Go back to the past and bring forward that which is useful.
Shahid Jr. credits his business growth and opportunities to his father, Mellve Shahid Sr., who has been a successful journeyman painter for more than 30 years, and who is also founder of The Empowerment Network, a prostate cancer advocacy organization. The senior Shahid is a 15-year prostate cancer survivor.
For young Shahid, the meaning of the Sankofa Bird is real to him. The logo represents the business seed planted in him and his sisters from their dad.
“He’s remarkable,” he says. “All three of his children are entrepreneurs. We all got that from the same person. His sisters are business owners: Nafeesah Lester owns, I Am Boutique, and Kalima Shahid owns, Kay’s Kitchen Restaurant.
“My father is the best teacher I know,” Shahid Jr. says. “He teaches by example – not by just what he says but more by what he does.”
Shahid Sr. is proud of his son. He says it does his “heart good to know that the Shahid name and this outstanding family painting trade” is generational.
He added: “A great businessman once said, ‘Your Legacy should be that you made it better than it was when you got it.’ ” Mellve Shahid Jr. is making it better.
For more information about Shahid Painting and Decorating, call Mellve Shahid Jr. at 314-662-1758.
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PHOTOS ON PAGE 2
From left to right: St. Louis Alderwoman Shameen Hubbard, Mellve Shahid Sr., Mellve Shahid lll,
Mellve Shahid Jr., Dr. Kacy Shahid and St. Louis Alderman Jack Costar
A Resolution from the City of St. Louis was
presented to Mellve Jr. for the opening of his
new office and a short history of the Shahid
family (three generations) in the painting trade.
From left: Mellve III, Mellve Jr. and Mellve Sr.
