Today we’d like to introduce you to MJ Northrop.
Hi MJ, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Our Story: A Labor of Love
Northrop’s Furniture began in 2017 as a side hustle, with our back porch serving as our very first workshop. The business quickly outgrew that space, leading us to lease our current shop in South Austin on the Menchaca line.
We owe a debt of gratitude to our property owner, Ted Garcia, who took a chance on us and gave us a great deal on the rent so we could get up and running. We truly wouldn’t be here without his kindness and old-school respect for the trades, and we maintain a close friendship with him and his family to this day.
Since those humble beginnings, we have completed thousands of jobs, restoring everything from treasured antiques and MCM collectibles to sentimental oddities from all over the globe.
What truly drives us is the moment a customer exclaims (and often tears up) upon seeing their restored piece. It’s about much more than just repair—it’s about keeping items from the landfill and relinquishing the guilt folks carry when kicking around a family relic for years. We know that once we’ve finished, that item has been saved and can be passed down to the next generation in wonderful condition. The happiness that comes from these experiences is worth the work, as this is truly a labor of love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have survived Covid in 2020 followed by a shop fire which destroyed 1/2 of our entire space in 2021. After the fire old friends from our last 23 years in Texas came out in droves to help us clean up, rebuild and get open in one month post fire. We couldn’t have done it without their help and love.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in MCM restoration of collectible vintage pieces. We’ve worked on Herman Miller, Evans, Knoll, McCobb, Pearsall, Baughman, Lane, Heywood….the list goes on and on. We are also one of the only shops offering cane and rush weaving, both dying arts.
We are most proud of starting a business with no investor funding on a porch and growing it dollar by dollar into a full service shop that supports our family of 6.
What were you like growing up?
Both of us were handy kids and were encouraged by our parents to use tools and pursue interests in hobbies usually reserved for boys. They also instilled in us a love of antiques at a young age. We didn’t own a “new” piece of furniture in our entire home; every item was collected and treasured. This instilled in us a true value in restoring versus replacing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.northropsfurnitureshop.com
- Instagram: @northropsfurnitureshop
