By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
In December, Cazenovia Cutblock announced the relocation of its production from 157 Midstate Lane — just off Route 20 East — to D.R. Cornue Woodworks in Cazenovia.
All retail items will continue to be available at the 20|EAST farm store on Albany Street.
Self-taught woodworker Tim Hughes and his sister McKenzie Hughes Houseman — who now owns and operates 20|EAST — launched the business at the Cazenovia Farmers Market in 2009.
“[Tim] had been making things for fun, like cutting boards and other things, and we decided to try the Farmers Market,” Houseman said. “We sold everything. Every single thing that he made we sold that day . . . We built the business doing the market and it just grew from there.”
Today, Cazenovia Cutblock offers everything from cutting boards and bowls to wood butcher-block islands, countertops, tables and other custom pieces.
Hughes passed away in 2015, and his wife Jennifer took over the family business.
“This past Friday marked the four year anniversary since we lost my amazing brother,” Houseman said in a Dec. 10 Facebook post. “A lot has changed in that time, and this community has been a huge part of that. You all have shown up in droves to support my family and the business we created because of the warm spirit and talent my brother had. We could not do any of this without this wonderful community, and we see it every day.”
In her post, Houseman announced that she has taken over for her sister-in-law, who recently decided to take a step back from the business.
“Jennifer Hughes is working at what she loves with GRG Gloria Realty Group, but she still helps me whenever I need it,” Houseman said.
In order to continue the family business and manage 20|EAST, Houseman turned to D.R. Cornue Woodworks to take over all Cutblock production.
“Ian Cornue and his dad, Dale, were involved in helping us start Cutblock 10 years ago,” Houseman said. “I asked Ian if he would be interested in producing the boards for me and he said yes, so we teamed up. It just made the most sense. [The business] is still family owned and it’s all still made in Cazenovia.”
Hughes’ parents, Parnell and Sandra, recently sold the property at 157 Midstate Lane to Marla Velky-Reger and Meghan Kelly, owners of Cazenovia Community Fitness (CCF) — a gym and fitness studio adjacent to the old Cazenovia Cutblock production facility.
Velky-Reger and Kelly are currently in the process of expanding their 24-hour fitness club into the current group fitness studio, which will be relocated into the old Cutblock space.
“We are very excited about the sale; I think it means good things for all of the businesses involved,” Velky-Reger said. “We expect the expansion to be completed around mid-January.”
To learn more about Cazenovia Cutblock, visit cazenoviacutblock.shop/.
Learn about CCF at cazenoviacommunityfitness.com/.
