2006 Coast News article, written by Mark Altman of Blue Magoo Design

"We attribute our success to hard work, service, quality and perseverance," says Rene Chalepas, owner of  European Cabinet Company along with his wife Judy. "I don't build all of these cabinets by myself. Another important part of success is having great people working for you."

Composed of two large buildings occupying adjacent lots near the familiar Highland Way strawberry fields, European Cabinet Company buzzes with activity. Manufacturing high-end cabinetry and supplying similar home hardware, company trucks come and go with deliveries, machinery sounds fill the air and customers pour in and out to visit the showroom of Judy's side of the business, the Hardware Division.

"There was space available in this building, so I pitched the idea of running a hardware business and ran with it," beams Judy. Filled wall to wall with every type of door, cabinet and drawer hardware imaginable, the hardware showroom is like a Las Vegas lightshow with knobs instead of lights. "We are knocking out the back wall and expanding the showroom another 30 feet so we can carry even more products."

Overseeing all the comings and goings means being in multiple places throughout the workday. Not one to waste time, the vigorous 69-year old Rene zooms between buildings on a sporty new Segway Human Transporter. "For a long time, I rode a bicycle to get around faster," he mentions. "One of my workers suggested I use a Segway Human Transporter instead. Next thing I knew, Judy gave me one for Christmas!"

One building houses a large CNC woodcutting machine, forklifts, wood and the hardware showroom. The other is home to the large wood shop, Rene's office and a spacious upstairs apartment that the Chalepas live in.

"That is the European way," says Rene, who is originally from Provence, France. "Most people live above their businesses. It puts you closer to your business, saves commute costs and has been shown to cut down on crime compared living away from the business."

Both in their 60's, Rene and Judy work long hours, 7 days a week and love it. "We enjoy working," says Judy. "Everyone is always telling us to retire, but we are doing the opposite and expanding our business."

In business for over 25 years on the Central Coast, The European Cabinet Company has built cabinets for many home developments and custom homes in the area. "The Dolphin Bay Condo was one of our largest," explains Rene. "We built and installed the cabinets for 70 units, the restaurant, and health spa. With 20-30 cabinets per/units, it took 9 very busy months and was done on time."

The three recognizable red and white company trucks did shuttling duties for all these cabinets from the shop to the job. The next time you see one of them cruising the Central Coast, consider the role model couple and the work ethic behind them.