National Hardwood Magazine - November 2023

GREAT LAKES WOODWORKING Continued
The Colony Club interior bar and pub tables are made by GLW from Walnut and veneer.
Gatliff said that specifications of Hardwood lumber are
vital for the production process as GLW clients are highend
and mostly custom markets. “Our customers require
higher grades,” he explained. “Being able to source from
reputable suppliers that we can rely on is key.” He said
GLW procures its Hardwood lumber from different avenues.
“We purchase from sawmills and depending on
the size of the project, sometimes we will go directly to
the Hardwood wholesalers as well. We partner with our
clients to achieve cost-effective and time-efficient solutions
without compromising quality. We’ve been supporting
retailers since 1984. Since then, we’ve worked
A GLW custom-crafted “Willard Bar Station” designed for customers
to build their own watch.
with some pretty great brands including Evereve, Williams-Sonoma,
West Elm, Soft Surroundings, Lululemon
and many others.”
When asked about the glue that holds the operation
together, Gatliff said, “Our engineering and custom manufacturing
and finishing is where we stand apart from
others in our industry. We have a great team from engineering
to our craftsmen and exceptional finishing. Our
installation is top-notch. We’re honest and we’re fair and
in today’s world, that’s a pretty big deal.”
With several high-end applications under their belt,
Gatliff said, “Two of the most memorable have been
the recent restoration at the Forbes Hospitality location,
The Colony Club, and replications at the Henry Ford
Greenfield Village. The Colony Club is a building that
Jim Forbes’s family purchased in the 1980s and it had
been previously abandoned. They brought us in to help
bring this building back to its former beauty. They replicated
mouldings and artwork, bringing back the gorgeous
setting that it truly is. We did some Walnut kitchens
on the upper floors for a client who rented two floors
of this building. These types of projects are interesting
and intricate as our goal is to complement everything in
its natural historic environment.”
He continued, “For the Henry Ford Greenfield Village,
we manufactured some ornate pieces for an 1825 repli-
cation of scrollwork. We used our
CNCs to replicate these pieces
that had been carved well over
150 years ago.”
About 50 employees make up
the team at GLW. When asked
about key personnel Gatliff said,
“All of our employees are key. We
couldn’t do what we do without our
team. My business partner Mike
Mancinelli helped start the company.
Chris Hammond heads up
our engineering and Mike Young
has been with us long term and he
does a bit of everything. But there
isn’t a single person on our team
that isn’t integral to the operation.”
GLW was founded in 1984 when
two carpenters in Detroit decided
to forgo their separate jobs and
build something better together.
Combining their skill sets, Mike
Mancinelli and Paul LaCroix refined
their craftsmanship and inspired
each other to grow daily.
Together, with the help of eventual
owner, Tony Gatliff, the business
began to expand.
“I was always striving for the
next level, always pushing things,
wanting to get better, never settling
for where we were at,” said
Mike Mancinelli.
Starting a business out of a garage,
the partners strove to create
a company based on enduring relationships.
Offering more than exceptional
woodwork, they pledged
to build a business committed to
its people. “An environment where
you treat people how you want to
be treated,” Mancinelli said.
As the business grew, the partners
invested in talent and equipment.
Creating innovative tools
and custom processes for each
job became a key advantage to
craftsmanship. Paul LaCroix reflected,
“Engineering is what was
going to set us apart, it needed
to be a leading role in the company.”
Gatliff added, “A hallmark of
The modular displays shown here are equipped with sliding glass doors for open-air or
enclosed displays.
A GLW hand-crafted wood and glass showcase spotlights a high-end retailer’s product.
GLW is product quality, with a high bar
for expectations and owners that deeply
care about their work. We understand
that your store is an embodiment of
your brand and every fixture requires a
particular look and feel to tell your story.
Our expertise in woodwork solutions
for retail environments runs deep. We
are meticulous with design-engineering,
craftsmanship, and construction to provide
premium fixtures that express your
For more information visit www.GLWDetroit.com.
brand with efficient function and
form.”
Gatliff offered, “With a commitment
to craftsmanship and relationships,
we have grown but remain
humble. We are proud of maintaining
production in Detroit and working
with prestigious retailers across
the nation.”
GLW is a member of the Architectural
Wood Institute. n
20 NOVEMBER 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE RealAmericanHardwood.com/industry
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NOVEMBER 2023 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 21