I consider myself to be a pretty handy person. In fact, last week, I put together a trundle bed (the one with the drawers underneath) without any instructions or assistance, so when I got a call from Mike Girndt, the owner of Mike’s Furniture Repair in Norwich, I figured it would be a piece of cake.

I’m not sure if it was the shoes, the confidence or the bubbly attitude, but Mike didn’t seem quite as confident in my furniture expertise.

I arrived at the shop, located behind his house at 17 Burr Ave. in Norwich, ready to work, but for the most part, I just watched and listened as Mike explained the ins and outs of furniture repair.

Mike started his career in furniture in 1967 when he began working at Kehoe’s. “I’ve been in the furniture business for 41 years,” he said. During his time at the Norwich store, he did everything from repairs to deliveries. When it started to look like the store was going to close, Mike began thinking ahead, and decided to continue his work out of his own shop.

Mike’s Furniture Repair has now been open for about seven years. “When things ended down there (at Kehoe’s), I came here and just kept working,” Mike said. “I enjoy it. People know me around town, and I see quite a few people who used to come into the store.”