About
Why the name Bootleg Wood Works?
Our hometown of Ogden, Utah has a rich and shady past! In 1869, Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad tracks met at Promontory Point just outside of Ogden. This made Ogden the Junction City because anyone who was heading out west had to switch rails in Ogden before moving on. This meant the Union Station on Historic 25th street was the main hub of Ogden. This quickly turned 25th street into a land of vice's where you could find anything from booze to opium to prostitutes to gambling, 25th street had it all.
In 1917 Utah enacted prohibition two years before federal prohibition was enacted in 1920. This meant 25th street was already home to a thriving and established chain bootleg operations by the time federal prohibition came around. Outlaws even went as far as digging tunnels under 25th street to bootleg booze, drugs and prostitutes. The mobster Al Capone reportedly said that he wouldn’t dare walk the streets of Ogden for fear of his life.
The tunnels were sealed long ago but Ogden still has grit and the bad reputation, which the locals embrace. Since I'm a local and was technically a Bootlegger at 19, Bootleg Wood Works seemed more than fitting!
OWNERS/FOUNDERS
Hello and thanks for visiting! My name is Charles "Chuck" Stevens, and my amazing wife is Leticia Stevens. I was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. While Letica was born in Michoacán, Mexico and then immigrated to Ogden at 6 years old. We met sophomore year of high school and became a "thang" our junior year and she's been the Bonnie to my Clyde ever since.
I have always been a maker; I just didn't know it. At 19 I saw the documentary "How Beer Saved the World" and became obsessed with how beer was made (I’m a Proud YouTube University grad!), So in 2014 Leticia bought me a beer making kit for Christmas and boom! A passion was born! At 22 I started my career in the brewing industry by kegging beer and worked my way up to Brewer. After 7 years working in the industry I loved, I lost the spark that fueled my passion, from 2019 to the fall of 2020 I couldn't find enjoyment in many of the things I once did, until, Leticia showed me an embroidery hoop holder she was going to buy. I looked at the design and thought "I could build this and, it would be more user friendly and not made from pine!". Wood Work was something I always wanted to try, but never had a place, or the tools to try it, so, I gutted my little 12x20 cinderblock garage and turned it into my shop! All to make an Embroidery Hoop Holder...
I spent any extra time I had either working in my shop or watching YouTube to learn anything I could. I felt the spark I once had, growing into a raging fire! After setting up the shop, I finished Leticia's Embroidery Hoop holder, built her a floating night stand, and built a kitchen pantry with open shelving. She was amazed along with everyone else, and I soon realized my creations were reflecting a much higher skill/quality than what I considered myself to have.
After daydreaming every day for a year of quitting my office job to start my own wood shop, a bad work day came – that night I got serious (a rare occasion) – I told Leticia I wanted to put my two weeks in to start the wood shop. Without hesitation, Letica told me I’ve had her support from the first time I jokingly said I wanted to start a woodshop . I put my two weeks’ notice in the next day 10/08/2021.
I spent the next year basically living in my shop honing my skill. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, I make has to be the absolute best quality I can possibly produce, I want everything I make to become a family heirloom, I want your eyes to light up every time you walk past one of my creations in your home, I promise you will not be disappointed!
Guarantee
I create pieces you can enjoy for years to come. If you ever encounter a design flaw or craftsmanship issue, I will fix or replace the piece–you only pay shipping. I'm also always available to help you maintain the look of your wood. I do not guarantee mistreatment and pieces that were not maintained properly.