Nice Guys Finish Here

Nice Woodworks – Eric Nice Owner and Designer

Usually most folks in the area know Eric Nice as the musician that plays in various bars and restaurants in the area. And yes, he plays at Mateja’s every Thursday afternoon at 2 on the beach in Guayabitos. What most folks don’t know is that Eric is an extraordinary woodworker who produces beautiful pieces of cabinetry.

We visited Eric’s new shop set up at Bodegas Y Bodeguitas, Dan Milski’s RV Boat and Storage yard just past the water purification plant in La Peñita, and asked him why he decided to set up shop here on the Jaltemba Coast. After all, the Eric we know is the guy who was the executive producer of the Lake City Wine and Music Festival in Lake City, Colorado. This Nice fella is the guy that has worked with Grammy award winning artists such as Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines (Dixie Chicks) and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. And now he’s woodworking in the middle of miles of pineapple groves in La Peñita?

“Quality of life!” says Eric. “La Peñita is a wonderful community with a lot of opportunity. I traveled around Mexico for over 20 years ago and I discovered La Peñita. I came to the realization that why go anywhere else. After researching the market for custom woodworking in the area I knew there was a niche for the services I have to offer.”

Eric takes his business seriously and shows us his completed work and work in progress. He explains that the best Mexican cabinet makers are fully booked for the year and that with the influx of North of the border home buyers, quality cabinets are in demand. He spent the summer making sure he was registered with the government and obtained the proper and legal documents from Hacienda and Immigration. Once the legal work was complete he purchased 1,000 board feet of madera huanacaxtle, brought his tools from his previous business (Nice Woodworks) in Lake City, Colorado to La Peñita. He then took his time preparing the wood for quality cabinets and furniture.

And Eric’s business smarts have paid off. Right now he is busy with many remodel and upgrades of existing kitchens and cabinetry. He is also consulting on some new construction kitchen designs due for completion next year. On the side he is taking orders for custom pieces ranging from humidors, overhead wine glass holders/wine racks, free standing pantries, night stands, and entertainment centers.

Eric proudly shows us around his workshop and explains the differences between quality huanacaxtle boards and laughs when he tells us about learning to work with it. He takes the time to thank Dan Milski, Alfredo Campos and Lee Krause of Bodegas Y Bodeguitas for helping him out. He quips his “Special of the month....all the sawdust you can eat half price through the Holidays! Available by the kilo or metric ton. Great as a filler for meatloaf or stretch that stuffing for the Christmas turkey!”