Dominic DeMore
Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management
Scot Lowry
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J Langos Wood Shop works tirelessly to make sure that his designs are not only innovative but responsible as well as taking an active role in his community. To do so he attempts to use repurposed materials whenever possible. He helps the world by turning what would would eventually end up in a landfill into beautiful one of a kind furniture. The company has also made great strides to use environmentally responsible products in the crafting process of their unique pieces.
When possible Langos takes great joy in using repurposed materials to create his products. He has built flower boxes, chests, wall accents, shelving, and even beer flights out of wooden pallets that would have otherwise been discarded or forgotten. "People see a pallet and more often than not think of it as a lesser wood. It's not fancy or beautiful. Maybe all it's good for is to hold stacks of toilet paper at Sam's Club or to be burned in the back of some high schoolers yard during Homecoming, but to me, it can be so much more" said Langos. But reducing waste does not just end with saving a few pallets from "Kyle's backyard Bonanza 2018", he has also made efforts to use even more unique materials such as pieces of a bowling alley to construct a table fit for the biggest fan of the sport or just someone looking for a unique talking piece for their man cave.
J Langos Wood Shop also makes efforts to promote the community around North East Ohio by working with several local businesses such as Astoria, 49th Street Tavern, Loose Moose Grub & Pub, and Niko's Bar and Gyro to create a unique environment for their customers. "When someone hires me to make them a table or a bar top or even a knick-knack I want to make sure that they are getting something that will set them apart from the crowd. Cleveland is coming back and so are these mom and pop bars and restaurants, so I just want to do my part to help that happen." I spoke to a customer of the Wood Shop who described the process as "no one goes to "Chilies" because they like the table" but when they go to his restaurant he gets compliments all the time on Langos's work. He finished by talking about how competitive the business is and any advantage helps, even if it is because someone thinks "the thing you serve the beer on" is cool.
J Langos Wood Shop was born the same way all great companies are; from inspiration, perspiration, and just a tinge of desperation. When speaking to the owner and woodsmith James Langos he will say, "I just got tired of working for other people, so I decided the next time I want to tell my boss off I am going to have to do it from my bathroom mirror." They specialize in a wide variety of custom carpentry that can exceed even the wildest of imaginations. Whether that be a table that looks like Paul Bunyan split a tree right down the middle and set it in your dining room or a hand-crafted walnut and bloodwood cutting board that looks so good you are not sure if Bobby Fisher would use it to play chess or serve charcuterie. But beautiful craftsmanship is only a part of what makes J Langos Wood Shop special. His dedication to using re-purposed materials was born from a keen eye and a stroke of luck. Langos commented, "A friend offered me some sections of a lane from a bowling alley that was being torn down or renovated and I thought to myself why not? Better it sit in my garage till I figure out what can be done with it than in some landfill somewhere."
Beyond what the company itself is doing, they are also starting a conversation about how what one person sees as old and broken down can be utilized to make something amazing. J Langos Wood Shop offers a second life (or third if you count when the wood was simply just a tree) to these materials. Some of the company's more popular pieces have even come from trees that fell do to natural events as opposed to farmed specifically for manufacturing. This means that you could own a live edge coffee table that was knocked down as the result of a storm instead of cut down by some major wood supplier that is adding to the worlds deforestation problem.
When I asked Langos how he comes up with his new ideas for a project he said he will experiment with new materials or applications. Whenever he can, Langos tries to use natural products to finish his work. One small test will lead to a brand-new project just to see how an all-natural mineral oil will work with a piece of wood. This pursuit of all natural has also led to a growing portion of his business in "live-edge" pieces. Langos said, "Some customers love a more rustic natural look that you can't get when a piece of wood has been treated over and over or just cut into these perfectly symmetrical pieces". He continued, "It is corny as hell but so much of my work is about getting a second life. A pallet becomes a table or something. A lifelong fry cook opens his own bar and grill. Even me pursuing my dream of building something I am passionate about every day. The possibilities are endless, I am just trying to find the one that no one else has seen before."
According to the Washington Post the world generates 3.5 million tons of solid waste everyday. With such a daunting number, it may seem insignificant what a small Wood Shop in North East Ohio does with just a few remnants of a torn down old bowling alley. Perhaps that ratty night stand from 1982 with scratches and a wobbly leg is too far gone to be of use to you and will go out with the rest of the trash. But to James Langos these are items to be treasured. To be reimagined into something wonderful. Saving a few pieces a wood from joining the massive amount of trash in our landfills today may seem insignificant to some but it is a start. It is a shining example that with a little imagination and a bit more effort we all can do our part to reduce that 3.5 million tons. J Langos Wood Shop has already started and he hopes the next time you are thinking of getting rid of a worn down coffee table you will think of them and breath new life into an old piece of wood.
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James Langos, Owner/Woodsmith
