Entrepreneur opens pair of complementary shops
RUMFORD – Clinton Bradbury has again followed his philosophy.
If you don’t grow and expand, you die.
This entrepreneur with several businesses to his credit has added two more, Maine Artisans Wood Gallery and Woodworkers Paradise, both in a 74,000-square-foot building a couple of miles west of town.
Friday was the grand opening for both businesses. Dozens of people came streaming in and out all day, most in awe of the variety and species of wood used to make chairs, beds, cribbage boards, cabinets, rolling pins, and many more items.
“It’s heavenly,” said Joyce Morgan of Mexico. “I love it. I love wood.”
She was in the gallery looking over one of the sturdy chairs constructed of hardwood, while carrying four pieces of maple she had just bought next door at Woodworkers Paradise.
The gallery provides an outlet for nearly three dozen wood-crafters from the River Valley and throughout Maine. On the opening day, about 15 craftsmen were represented, including Charles “Chuck” Thornton of Turner. His woodcraft was a little different than most – he makes custom-made electric and acoustic guitars from tiger maple.
Some of his customers in the past include Hank Williams Jr. and Vince Gill.
Kathy Hebert, managing supervisor for the store, said the increased focus on Maine-made wood products helps ensure that wood stays in Maine. It also reflects the importance of wood to the thousands of people who have worked in one the state’s many wood-turning mills. That industry is almost as rare now as the shoe industry.
“Wood has been their entire life,” she said.
Bradbury has scouted all over the state looking for the perfect wood, and for the most creative wood crafters.
“There’s a large group of craftsmen in Maine who don’t have an outlet,” he said.
At next door’s Woodworkers Paradise, the home craftsman or carpenter can find almost anything he’d want, from just a few boards of such woods as birch, maple and hickory, to unfinished frame pieces.
Bradbury bought the 74,000-square-foot former Thurston’s mill in May from the River Valley Growth Council. After making some repairs to the building, he started up Premium Specialty Hardwoods, a division of Premium Logyards Inc.
When he opened, he had four employees. Now, he has 12. He also has plans to build an addition onto the original building in the not too distant future for additional storage. He also expects to increase the number of employees to about 40 within the next year or so.
Besides the wood-related businesses, he also owns Dixfield Discount Fuels and Bradbury Enterprises, a construction and excavating firm.
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