The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
OLD BECOMES NEW
Industrial Loft: Mark Papa relocates custom design workshop from Cazenovia to Sherrill
Industrial Loft ownerMark Papa could not be happier.
He has a new storefront that dwarfs his former Cazenovia location and he now counts the distance between his workshop and storefront in steps instead of miles.
Papa has relocated his Industrial Loft storefront from Albany Street in Cazenovia to East Seneca Street in Sherrill next to Sherrill Manufacturing. In terms of numbers, the move increases the square footage of his store by twofold. Now, when he completes his latest piece for the store, his art takes a 400 foot trip from Papa’s workshop instead of a roughly 20 mile trip over the hills to Cazenovia. Forty mile round trips to Albany Street are now a thing of the past.
“I wanted to get back to taking care of the store,” he said. “I was getting spread too thin.”
Papa specializes in the creation of unique furniture and lighting design concepts, uncovering the appealing side of neglected items. In addition to his own time spent exploring old factories and barns, he relies on a handful of professional pickers -yes, just like the guys on “American Pickers” - who have worked with him long enough to have an eye for the type of textured wood or unique old equipment to cater to his tastes.
From working on more local projects at HipStir Cafe and Creekside Inn, to jobs in Syracuse and supplying his Cazenovia location from his Sherrill workshop, it was too much. And though he appreciates his time in Cazenovia, he is ex-
cited to be closer to the Kenwood home he shares with his wife Maria and daughter Madi, and closer to the shop he has spent countless hours in.
“It’s nice being back here, having the shopand store so close. I couldn’t have a better location for a store named Industrial Loft,” Papa said taking in the old Oneida Limited factory buildings behind his storefront. “It lends itself perfectly.”
Papa began looking for a new storefront in during the Fall of 2016, but did not make his decision to move until January of this year. Nearly half a year later, he has completed themove into his new digs, and he is excited to get back to design and furniture pieces, instead of focusing light fixtures as he feels he has been as of late. Although, he is please with the outcome of the move, Papa spoke sentimentally of Cazenovia.
“I could not have gotten here with Cazenovia first,” he said. “I could not have opened my doors here [right away.]”
As to his products, Papa explained that 75 percent of his work is made up in custom job requests. People come into the store and say, “I like this, but can you do this?” Having a larger storefront will allow Papa to showcase more of his completed wares and projects.
As to how he knows an old turkey feeder will make a one-of-a-kindmirror, Papa says he’s been doing it for so long that he knows almost instantly how he canmorph a forgotten barn or junkyard find into a usable creation. Papa doesn’t want to be a perfect furniture maker. He loves flaws and abnormalities in old barn wood that give a piece unique texture. He specifically works with sanders instead of planers to keepeachpieceas smoothas it is unique. From taking an old bird cage and converting it into a chandelier, to reupholstering ugly, old community college chairs to give a fresh and comfortable design, to making mirrors out of turkey feeders, Papa has an eye for making the old useful and attractive. Another eye-catching piece in his store includes an old skilift chair repurposed as a lounge swing.
“I hope I hit that note of you walk in here and see somthing you like,” Papa said.
Hours of operation at the newly opened Industrial Loft include: •Thursdays- 11a.m. to6p.m. •Fridays - 11 a.m. to6p.m. •Saturdays - 10a.m. to5p.m. •Sundays - 12 to 4 p.m. •Mondays-Wednesdays - Closed.