bark Woodshop

Closson Road couple realize County dream

A few months behind schedule due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the doors to bark Woodshop opened to the public for the first time about four weeks ago. The purpose-built boutique studio located on Closson Road is home to seasoned woodworker Mike McGuire. The dedicated space is where Mike plays with different types of wood, where the creative process combines design, skill and vision. He is known for charcuterie boards and endgrain cutting boards, where the mix of woods he selects expose the natural characteristics of the raw material. Appearing more art piece than functional utensil, his pieces are meant to be used, as well as admired for their beauty and workmanship.

Mike and wife Susan McGuire landed in Prince Edward County in April 2019. Leading corporate Toronto lifestyles—he in sales, she in marketing—they knew it was time to make the permanent leap to the County to embark upon the next chapter of their lives. It was about two years ago when the division of the company Mike was working for as head of sales nationally was sold. “We sat down and said we have been talking about this for a long time, now seems like a really good opportunity, so let’s do it,” explains Mike. “It was a really good opportunity to take stock and do what we want to do, and here we are.” They started looking for somewhere to buy in Prince Edward County, a process that took some time. “At that point, we had already sold the house in Toronto, so there was no looking back, we had to get out.”

“The plan right from the start was to build some kind of facility that would house both a woodworking shop and an Airbnb rental upstairs,” explains Mike. He and Susan had a few visions and settled on the carriage house look, and having found a good builder, things progressed very quickly. Home for the McGuires is steps away from the new on-site studio (bark Woodshop) with its onebedroom Airbnb (bark Guesthouse) set within a two-acre property, also home to three golden retrievers, hence the bark theme.

Mike describes how he caught the woodworking bug many years ago, but he also credits his great uncle for planting the seed that would germinate into what would eventually become bark Woodshop. “I had a great uncle—who is still living, and still making things, and is about 95—and he had the most amazing shop,” explains Mike. “When I was a kid, and he would never let me touch anything, but he would let me watch him.” He says the woodworking started out as a hobby, describing how it also kept him sane from the corporate world. “I made a number of things in my driveway in Toronto, such as charcuterie boards and endgrain cutting boards where friends wanted to buy them for gifts for friends,” he says. “Most of my tools in Toronto were on wheels, and I would wheel them out of my little garage onto the driveway and I would work in the dead of winter.”

Woodworker Mike McGuire outside his newly-opened Closson Road studio, bark Woodshop.

He describes his new woodshop as a dream, containing everything he needs for his craft, from old-fashioned hand tools to new-age digital woodworking equipment. “I didn’t have anything this elaborate in Toronto,” he adds. Mike works with mostly local woods, such as maple, cherry and walnut, where he says people are drawn to the patterns and colours, but he also uses specialty woods and enjoys re-purposing materials, including old barn wood. He will use exotics too occasionally (tigerwood and zebrawood for instance) because people really like them he says. “Here is purpleheart, native to Mexico, the heart wood of the tree is purple, there are no dyes; it just grows like that.” Everything he makes is natural where nothing is dyed, and he only uses food-safe finishes, such as beeswax and mineral oil.

“The goal here is to really provide an experience for customers with the food, wine and outdoor living, so they are the kind of things I’ve made a lot of,“ he says. This skilled craftsman’s talent extends to kitchen tables, floating shelves, built-ins and other custom work, but admits it’s hard to compete with some of the big name companies. “Right now, I am focusing on charcuterie boards, endgrain cutting boards, custom wood signs, home and garden pieces and custom work.” Susan describes her role as more behind the scenes, assisting with the marketing and branding side of the business. “That’s what I enjoy doing, but we would like to get more involved in the wedding industry,” says Susan. “I have a background in corporate events, so trying to figure out all the special touches that make a difference when people are visiting. And if they were to get married here, there are a lot of things we would like to be involved in from the wedding aspect.”

“This is our new life and we are absolutely thrilled; it’s been a lot of fun and we love this community,” says Mike. “We were very busy in corporate life, but it’s amazing just how busy we are now for ourselves, but it’s so much different when you are doing something for yourself than when you are racing around for somebody else,” he adds. “What can be more fun than making things people can enjoy?” Susan admits the move from the city has been a big change for the couple. “I love it, it’s so peaceful,” she says, as she talks about noticing the birds and the dark sky. “The first week we were here, it was so quiet and I’d never experienced that in my life, and now you just take it for granted,” she laughs. “We talked about doing this for years, so to finally do it, it’s just wonderful,” she adds. “Some people wait too long, and they retire and then they don’t have the energy or it just doesn’t work out, we were really lucky that way.”

Susan also acknowledges the help and advice they received from supportive neighbours. “We didn’t know anyone when we moved here and it’s made a huge difference,” she says. “It’s just incredible,” adds Mike. “We have never felt this kind of support anywhere we’ve lived, and we’ve both lived many places over the years.” Mike notes it was a difficult time having to delay opening their businesses for three months. “We were in a position where we had invested a lot and we needed to move forward,” he explains. “We are really enjoying being here now that we are finally able to open and meet so many people; it’s been great and it’s very exciting,” adds Susan. bark Woodshop (barkwoodshop.com) is located at 791 Closson Road, Hillier (across from Lacey Estates Winery) and is open daily, noon to 5 p.m. Mike McGuire can be reached at 416.508.7771 or at mike@barkwoodshop.com.