Springdale business big hit with furniture made out of used wine, whiskey barrels

Michael Monahan was looking for an opportunity that would allow him to quit his job as a mechanical engineer.

In 2018, a project in the basement of his McCandless home helped Monahan find his true calling, which led to a business in Springdale with plans to expand in New Kensington.

It all started with the interest in whiskey that Monahan; his wife, Maddie; and her father share.

As the trio worked to finish the couple’s basement, it only made sense to add whiskey barrels to the design.

The search for used barrels proved to be quite a task, though, as they were expensive and hard to find. Monahan originally planned to order two barrels. When he finally found some, he upped his order to six.

He took those barrels and repurposed them into furniture pieces.

“It’s a great conversation starter,” Monahan said. “It has a lot of character and story.”

The new decor prompted Monahan to launch his own business making furniture out of used whiskey and wine barrels.

He started by selling the pieces on Craigslist as a side job for two years before pursuing the business on a full-time basis.

Monahan spent his time building an e-commerce presence through other sites, such as Etsy and eBay. He was able to make a full-time living out of it a year later, opening Mystic Barrels in Springdale in September 2020.

Used barrels shipped from places such as California and Kentucky are transformed in the Springdale workshop, located along Pittsburgh Street near Glen’s Custard.

The barrels are completely refurbished before sold. Monahan said he remembers 280 barrels being delivered in the first truckload he purchased when starting.

“I remember when we first got this space, thinking it was so big, but then the barrels took up half the space,” he said.

Starting a new business at the height of the pandemic was a risk for Monahan, who said business was slow after things began to shut down. That also was the time he saw his business becoming a hit.

Monahan said some customers will buy a barrel for personal use whether to make it a decorative piece or to design a new project out of it.

“I think people started to get bored and were looking for projects to do either for fun or to keep them busy,” he said.

During the four years Mystic Barrels has been in business, Monahan estimates 4,000 to 5,000 used barrels have been sold. Popular items sold at the store are tables and cabinets. Custom orders are available if time permits, he said.

Barrels sell for $125-$150. Furniture prices vary based on customizations chosen for order, he said.

To avoid expensive shipping charges, delivery drivers rotate their routes throughout the month.

Customers are able to see which states and cities the truck will be delivering to each week on their website. Shipping is available across the country.

A total of five staff members help make, sell or deliver the furniture.

Ben Avon resident Tristan Newcamp has been working for the business for a year. He does everything from sanding barrels to making tables in addition to doing photography and video work for Mystic Barrels to help elevate the brand.

“I really enjoy the hands-on work of it and learning new stuff,” he said.

Jonathan Sassaman travels an hour and a half from Central City, Somerset County, to work there. He has done blue-collar work since he was 10, making the work he does at Mystic Barrels a natural fit.

“It’s a really welcoming and good environment to be in,” Sassaman said.

The business is looking to expand and occupy the old Key Auto Dealership building in New Kensington, adding a showroom for customers. The Springdale location eventually will close.

With the reopening of businesses and restaurants, Monahan looks forward to more opportunities.

“It’s all about the customers,” he said. “They keep us here and end up with a great piece of furniture.”