Woodcraft Supply opens store in Walpole Park South

America's oldest and largest woodworking retailer, Woodcraft Supply, opened a second store in the greater Boston area. The location is at 3 Walpole Park South, north of Gillette Stadium. "In opening this store our goal is to make it more convenient for, and to better service, both the woodworking hobbyist and the professional, in the southern Boston, Cape Cod, and northern Rhode Island market areas," Gary Lombard, Woodcraft vice president for retail/franchise development, said. "Our Woburn store currently serves the north side of Boston, so we thought this location would complement its operation and offer easy access to Woodcraft in the greater Boston area." The new store offers 10,000 s/f dedicated to an extensive display of quality woodworking equipment and supplies for building cabinets and furniture, woodturning, woodcarving -- anything involving working wood. Woodworkers will also be able to take classes at the store as they do at the other Woodcraft stores. Manager Jerry Klevas has an extensive woodworking background that includes building custom furniture in his own shop prior to joining the Rhode Island Woodcraft store, first as assistant manager and then as manager until the store closed after the owners did not renew their franchise. "The thing I miss the most since the Rhode Island Woodcraft store closed is the interaction I had with the friends I made while working there. I really can't say they were just customers, because I got to know a great many of them over the five and half years, helping with tool selection, plans, techniques and such along the way," Klevas said. "I look forward to seeing these friends again and to making new ones." Tommy MacDonald, host of the Boston-based public television show Rough Cut -Woodworking with Tommy Mac, showed up soon after the store opened to present Klevas with a "store warming" gift - a laminated coat rack he made. MacDonald also posted a comment on the Rough Cut Facebook page: "This sure is awesome!! 10,000 s/f!! This place is my new home base ... Woo-hoo!!!"