Ferrysburg woodwork shop has sold more than three miles of bowling lane products

FERRYSBURG — After working in a variety of industries, Adam Fox has whittled his focus to a decades-long craft of woodworking that he recently turned into a full-time business.

At the business, Fox Woodwork, Fox and one other employee, Taylor Darling, collect materials and build various types of furniture based on custom client requests.

“I tallied up how many job titles I’ve had, and it was like 42,” Fox said. “I was a taxi driver in college, I made doughnuts at Meijer for a while and worked at gas stations. I’ve worked in the food and beverage industry, I’ve been the bar director, the bartender when I lived in California, (and) worked on a cannabis farm as a farmhand for a few summers.

“Every job has given me just a little bit of knowledge about something. ... I put it all together and put it all into this business. Being creative and using that experience that I’ve gained along the way has served me really well.”

Fox first started working with wood when he was 10 years old, when his father would bring home pallets and they'd build skateboard ramps and other things. In a similar fashion, most of Fox’s materials are collected and thrifted. A common item in Fox’s shop right now is bowling lane material.

“My whole model was, I never really had a lot of money to spend on materials and stuff like that, so I was always looking on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for deals and stuff that I thought was cool that you could turn into furniture,” Fox said.

“I found this guy (in Chicago) that had a listing up with bowling lane (wood) for sale, and I looked at it and it’s just basically like an extra-thick butcher block. So I was like, that would make a really cool dining table or coffee table.”

The first time, Fox bought 60 feet of material. He liked it so much, he went back and bought 120 feet, then 300 feet, then 700 feet.

“Then, before you know it, we’re three-and-a-half years later now, and we’ve sold a little over three miles of bowling lane (products),” he said. “We do anything from coffee tables and side tables to desks, bar tops, dining tables, full kitchen counters, kitchen islands.”

Recently, it’s been harder to find bowling lane wood. But the business works with other wood types and materials sourced uniquely, like barn wood and steel.

“I love building stuff that people can connect with on a deeper level,” Fox said. “I had a client come to me and say, ‘Hey, my grandpa passed away this year. He was a woodworker and I have this big pile of wood from his shop, and I don’t know what to do with it. But, my parents love to play cribbage. Could you take that wood and build a cribbage table?’ That’s the kind of stuff that I love doing."

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Since opening his first brick-and-mortar location a couple of months ago, Fox said he hasn't seen a lull in business. He has custom projects booked for the next few months, including his first, recently finished, full kitchen.

“I’m not afraid to work. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty,” Fox said. “I enjoy it. Every day is different.”

You can find Fox Woodwork at 214 Fourth St. in Ferrysburg; or on Facebook and Instagram as @FoxWoodwork.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: This woodwork shop has sold more than three miles of bowling lane products