- by liam Hoffman
Forged In Community
- by liam Hoffman
Why our axes now hang at timber!
Good work recognizes good work. I've always thought the forge and the kitchen are very similar work spaces. Both produce art by means of time and temperature, shaping and transforming. Whether you’re in a forge or a kitchen, you can tell when something is crafted with intention and pride. That’s what I’ve always respected about Timber!, a restaurant in Johnson City, TN that focuses on quality, consistency, and details that actually matter. It’s the kind of place where craftsmanship is obvious the moment you walk in.
Before any talk of collaboration, I already felt the similarities between what they were building and what we do at Hoffman Blacksmithing. So when the opportunity came to hang a set of our axes in their space, it wasn’t a marketing idea - it was a natural fit. To understand why, you have to understand who runs Timber!.
How Timber! Started
Timber! is run by Kevin and Jacob, two owners with very different backgrounds that ended up complementing each other.
Kevin has been in the restaurant industry for over 25 years. He originally went to art school and worked in restaurants to pay his way through, but eventually realized the industry suited him. “A lot of artists end up in hospitality,” he told me. “It’s creative, it’s fast, and it keeps you thinking.”
Jacob’s path was completely different. He worked in a coffee shop, moved to Chicago, got drawn into the food and beverage scene there, and eventually returned to help build Timber!. “I didn’t have a traditional restaurant career behind me,” he said, “but I cared a lot about food culture. When the opportunity came up to work on Timber!, I jumped in.”
The name Timber! came from early brainstorming sessions. Someone threw out the word during a conversation, and it stuck immediately. Kevin said, “As soon as I heard it, I said, ‘That’s it.’ It ties into the outdoors theme, and it made sense for what we wanted to create.”
Their space borders the Tree Streets neighborhood of Johnson City, which made the name feel even more fitting.
Why They Built Timber! in Johnson City
Most restaurateurs looking to open a modern, quality restaurant might choose places like Asheville. Kevin and Jacob heard that suggestion many times. But they stayed focused on Johnson City.
“This area had talent, ingredients, and interest,” Kevin said. “What it didn’t have was someone pushing for more forward-thinking food and beverage. We wanted to be the ones to start that.” Jacob added, “Instead of asking what Johnson City was, we asked where people here wanted to go. We thought, why not build that here instead of making people travel for it?”
They opened just eight months before COVID. It nearly shut them down. There were nights where they served two tables and sent fully staffed teams home frustrated. But they were able to pivot, stayed small, and survived long enough for the right customers to find them.
How They Run the Business
What stood out most in our conversation was how much they respect their team. Restaurants are known for high turnover, but Timber! has staff who have been with them since day one.
“We reward the team when the team does well,” Kevin told me. “We don’t reward ourselves first. You don’t have a restaurant without the people in it.” Jacob explained his approach like this: “A lot of restaurants treat people like replaceable parts. We try to do the opposite. We want individuality to show through. It makes the place better.”
Similarly, our skilled crew at Hoffman Blacksmithing is really what makes it "Hoffman Blacksmithing". It's not the design, it's not the quality materials, it's not the attention to detail - it's the highly skilled, highly dedicated and passionate team behind the product that makes it a reality. Just like Timber!, the success of our business is up to the success of our team.
They also pay attention to the steady indicators of a healthy business: consistent reservations, returning customers, word of mouth. And, like any small operation, they constantly solve new problems as they grow.
One line Jacob said stood out to me because it applies to any craft: “You never run out of problems. You just get better ones.” Anyone who's tried to build something from scratch understands exactly what he means.
Why Our Axes Belong There
As someone who cares about handwork, process, and quality materials, I’ve always respected businesses that operate with the same mindset. Timber!’s approach - thoughtful, intentional, and focused on the details that actually influence the final product felt familiar.
Hanging axes in their restaurant isn’t about decoration for me. It’s about partnering with people who understand the value of objects made with purpose. Timber! is that kind of place. Kevin and Jacob are those kinds of owners.
This collaboration isn’t about chasing attention. It’s about putting our work somewhere that reflects the same values we build into every tool - care, craft, and a respect for process.
Seeing Hoffman axes on Timber!’s wall is meaningful for a simple reason: I want our work to live in places that share the same philosophy. Timber! represents the best version of what a local business can be - professional, consistent, and committed to bettering the community around it.
For me, this isn’t just a display. It’s an acknowledgment that two businesses built on completely different crafts can recognize something similar in each other. That’s the kind of collaboration that matters. Not because it’s flashy, but because it’s genuine.
If you haven’t visited Timber! yet, go experience it for yourself. And if you look up and see our axes, know that they’re not just there for decoration. They’re there because this restaurant earned a place in the story of Hoffman Blacksmithing.
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