New Locally Owned Business Coming to White Oaks to Offer Something for Those with a Creative Side
By Jeff Toquinto on April 20, 2019
White Oaks is home to another new business. And this one is in a little more discrete location at the sprawling development.
The business is also something a bit different from the rest. Along with being locally owned, the business will be offering a niche service not 
available anywhere in the current development and the business itself is one of just two of the franchises in West Virginia.
available anywhere in the current development and the business itself is one of just two of the franchises in West Virginia.
In a little more than a month, Hammer & Stain DIY (Do It Yourself) Workshop will be opening in White Oaks on North Wedge Street. For those not familiar with that area, it’s situated off the Saltwell Road Exit just past the entrance to the Circle K and BFS and beside the Country Roads Grill.
“We signed our lease (two weeks ago). We anticipate the business opening in the first week of June,” said franchise owner and operator Mary McCloy.
What makes this new business a bit different from the standard fare of entity in place? It’s situated in a smaller location for starters and, two, it offers hands-on training as the business name suggests. And, the business is actually done in an instructional class format.
“We deal with unfinished wood projects where the client comes in and experiences completing a project. The experience includes everything from picking out the product, sanding it, picking out the color of 
stain they want and choosing stencils in order to personalize the project to their liking,” said McCloy.
stain they want and choosing stencils in order to personalize the project to their liking,” said McCloy.
For those concerned they won’t know how to do a project there’s no need to be. This is where the classroom portion of the business comes into play.
“There will be class-led projects with instruction given,” said McCloy. “I’ll be the primary instructor and we may end up having some helpers as well.”
Individuals only need to bring themselves. All the products used – from the item crafted, to the stencils and the stain – are provided by the studio as part of the cost.
“There are a variety of items you will be able to choose from to create the perfect project,” said McCloy. “The items include planks, porch leaners, wood shutters, rounds and more. There are a multitude of projects we’ll be doing.”
All of this will be done in 1,680 square feet of space. The area will provide enough room for up to 20 individuals, which will allow for groups to gather for special occasions.
“This is geared for anyone with creativity or looking to try something different, but it’s also aimed for corporate events and team building. We will also be entertaining for special events such as birthdays and bridal showers or something that a group may want to do,” said McCloy.
Class times will vary from an hour to three hours. The classes and projects are completed and taken home on the same day. McCloy said the paints and stains are specially made to dry quickly.
McCloy’s involvement in the business is unique. After doing marketing and sales in North Central West Virginia for 20 years, she has been looking into opening her own business. She said she was searching for franchising opportunities when this particular company showed up on her newsfeed on Facebook.
“That’s where it began and now I’m going to be one of 65 studios nationally and one of two in West Virginia, which is in Princeton,” said McCloy, who visited the site and took part in a session to know she wanted to jump into the opportunity. “I can tell you first hand it’s creative and fun. We hope to pull initially from the tri-county area and eventually see people from further out. Everyone is welcome.”
The space is being prepared by Elite Custom Builders, which owns the building. McCloy said individuals will have to register for classes on-line and can do so by visiting the Facebook page and Web site of the new business.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Sam and Mary McCloy with a completed project that will soon be available in Bridgeport. In the second photo, Mary McCloy is shown taking a class at the Princeton location, while the bottom photo is a corporate picture showing other projects that will soon be available to be done locally.
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