Pictured Leif Forre.
Leif Forre is the man behind Wall to Wall Framing, an Edgewater business that offers custom framing. I sat with Leif and discussed various topics, including Sept. 11th, Iowa, and Oprah.
Windy City Times: Tell me about your business.
Leif Forre: I started this business at the end of 1999. I was located downtown in the River West area for four years in the basement of a building. I was framing for hotel chains throughout the United States. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the business went downhill.
WCT: I saw that on your Web site [ www.walltowallframing.com ] . Why did that happen?
LF: Well, Sept. 11 hit and tourism [ nose-dived ] . Hotels put all of their jobs ( like remodeling ) on hold for a while, so my business really suffered because of it.
So, I had to reach out to the retail area of the business. Since I was in the industrial part of the River West area, I couldn't do [ retail business ] . I had to rely on regular clients and word of mouth. Advertising didn't help at all because my place was pretty hard to find.
My lease came up and I saw that this place [ at 5554 N. Winthrop ] was for rent, so I grabbed it.
WCT: This is a one-man operation, right?
LF: So far ... yep. ( Laughs )
WCT: Are you looking to expand?
LF: Right now, this is good. I'd like to be a lot busier with maybe one or two employees.
WCT: What are the best and worst parts of being a one-man operation?
LF: Best—being your own boss, being creative, and helping people. Worst—when business is slow, it's terrible. In January, the only thing I did was [ shovel ] the sidewalk three times a day.
WCT: So you'd rather stay small than own a chain of businesses?
LF: Yes ... I'd rather keep it small.
WCT: You've done work for [ Oprah Winfrey-owned ] Harpo Studios. What was that like?
LF: I worked with the same designers who worked in the hotel industry. We worked on the offices at Harpo. It was fun framing things and hanging art for the producers' offices.
WCT: Did you get to meet the Big O?
LF: No, I didn't. I saw her having lunch with her producers with her dogs running around.
WCT: What type of educational background do you have to do this?
LF: Ah ... you know what? I did not go to college. I started out about 14 years ago in Iowa; I worked at an art supply store at Iowa State University. Design students came in with projects; [ eventually ] I taught myself how to do things. I picked up on things right away and decided I wanted to get into it.
I moved to Chicago in 1991 and I've worked [ seemingly ] in every frame shop here. Then, I had the opportunity to start my own business.
WCT: You volunteer for an HIV/AIDS organization. Which one is it?
LF: It's called Vital Bridges. [ Note: The Web site is www.vitalbridges.org . ] Open Hand Chicago, The HIV Coalition ( HIVCO ) , and Community Response merged to form Vital Bridges [ in 2002 ] . I started volunteering about seven years ago and I go every Thursday from about 5-7:30.
WCT: What do you do in your spare time?
LF: I love the Chicago summers. I love to ride my bike and rollerblade. I think that Chicago is the greatest city in the summer.
WCT: Tell me something interesting about yourself.
LF: Well, as you can see by all of the framed Patsy Cline memorabilia in my shop, I am a big fan of hers. I grew up in a very small town in Iowa and absolutely hated anything to do with country music. I leaned more towards the New Wave and Punk music in the '80s. It took moving to Chicago and I guess getting a little older to finally appreciate country music. I still love all of the music from the '80s, but now I primarily listen to country music, old and new.
WCT: What unique items have you framed?
LF: Well, I've framed so many things—including silverware, postcards, fabrics, and even a table.
Wall to Wall Framing is located at 5554 N. Winthrop in Chicago; the phone number is ( 773 ) 334-5333. Be sure to check out www.walltowallframing.com to get a look at the gorgeous jobs that Leif has done for many—and can do for you.