L-R: Justin Schlueter and Randy Mayville

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“We were one of the last companies in the area to slow down during the downturn,” Mayville said.  “We were very busy up until about a year ago.  Our neighbors at Central Texas Metal Arts were so good to us during that time.  Their crew unloaded cabinetry materials for us with their forklift.  They are really nice people.  So, after a couple of months I started cooking barbecue for them. 

“Trey Fisher, owner of Central Texas Metal Arts, came over a one day and he told me how much he liked the barbecue and that I had “missed my calling”.  He encouraged me to keep cooking.

Mayville says he continued to operate the cabinetry business and also began to cook more barbecue.

“Several folks in the community started to stop by for a plate of brisket, sausage and chicken,” he said.  “People kept on coming in, so we decided to make a small restaurant at the front of our cabinetry shop.  Right now, we are serving barbecue on Fridays, but at the first of the year it will be seven days a week. We are already starting to remodel the front area for seating purposes.”

Mayville says he opened The Cabinet Tree in 2000.  Today, his son-in-law Justin Schlueter runs the shop.

“My wife Mary Ann also works with me today,” Mayville said.  “At times, our daughter Keli will come in the office and helps us out.

“I became interested in cabinetry when my brother-in-law offered me a job in the trade.  He taught me how to trim and I later learned how to build cabinets.  I have been in the trade since 1978.

“I love what I do today, because every job is unique.  I enjoy using my imagination on custom cabinetry projects.”

The most recent commercial job the company completed was the cabinetry for the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory project in Austin, TX.

Mayville says besides building cabinets and cooking barbecue, he loves writing and singing songs. 

“People will sometimes call me to sing at weddings or funerals,” he said.  “I also sing and play the guitar at church gatherings.  My wife and our three daughters all sing too.  At one time we were called “Randy and the Supremes”.  We aren’t nervous in front of a crowd.”

Looking towards the future, Mayville says he would like to continue building cabinets and eventually open a small chain of barbecue restaurants.

The Cabinet Tree Inc. is a custom cabinetry and remodeling company.  –ab

©2011 Construction News, Ltd.