Interview with Larry Cromwell, owners
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: When I was about 17 years old, a had a friend who owned TrueGrain Corporation. I lived with him, but he wouldn’t hire me. So I left there and went out on my own. I bought a finishing shop with no experience and I apprenticed. Then, after my apprenticeship, I went back to TrueGrain and that’s how I got my double apprenticeship. Then, I earned my doctorate. All those years I worked there, I developed a lot of the technology that’s used in refinishing today.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: I think one of the most important things is being able to match colors on different pieces of wood. When you do touch up, you’ve got to be able to match what you’re touching up or else it looks sloppy. Most people don’t build the kind of things that I build, like pulpits for a church. I donate a lot of the things that I make to the church here in town. And I’ve worked on thousands of pianos over the years, from restoring to building.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: You’d have to love it to be almost 80 years old and still doing it every day. It keeps me busy. Plus, there’s a satisfaction in having a client bring something in pieces in a cardboard box and putting it back together for them.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Maintaining a standard of the highest quality in everything we do, and satisfying the customers. The biggest thing is working with the customer and making sure that they’re happy with the color and the fit and the outcome. Color is really important to my clients, and it’s critical to get it right.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: My wife and co-owner, Gracie, and I donate a lot of furniture pieces to our church. I have pieces that I’ve built and restored for the Smithsonian, and I used to travel around the country in an RV and restore on location. Gracie also builds wooden toys that we donate to children around Christmastime.
Profile
Business: European Refinishing
Address: 5740 Olive St., Commerce City
Hours: 9 a.m.- 5p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment
Founded: 1954
Contact: 303-288-2530
Employees: 2
