21 Questions for Tim Du Val
04-04-11 Interviews
Who: Owner of The Foundry
Lives: Long Island City, New York
Why We Think He’s Cool: He will always have a bottle of Dom Perignon as a backup for anyone who needs it!
Interview by: José
On March 26th, The Foundry celebrated the 105th birthday since the building was completed and occupied by the Emil Calman & Company in 1906. Normally we like to interview folks who come through The Foundry as opposed to those who work at The Foundry. But given this current milestone, I knew I had to take advantage of this moment to interview the man who started it all. In this interview, Tim Du Val reveals his days of sleeping in a construction trailer with wife and business partner Dagny, how he truly feels about Allison running The Foundry, and more! Plus, find out the question I asked that could’ve gotten me fired...
Foundry: First questions: What were you and Dagny thinking 30 years ago when you found The Foundry?
Tim: Well, this was the jewel in the crown. We knew that. The basic structure was here and we knew it would cost a lot of money to fix it, but we wouldn’t have done it justice if we didn’t finish it properly in respect to the building. We actually waited from ’82 until ‘99 to start renovating.
F: What were you and Dagny doing before The Foundry?
T: We ran a plant design and maintenance company. When we started we just looked after plants with watering cans, running around offices, doing terraces, that sort of thing by ourselves--just the two of us. Gradually we got a couple more employees, and then that grew to about 65-75 people. As our business progressed, we started designing. So the experience of the construction, design, and renovation here was all self-taught.
F: What was the condition like when you first saw the place?
S: The roof had collapsed, there were big cracks in the chimneys, and most of the masonries, furnace, and alcoves had fallen down. It was monumental in the sense that nothing worked-there was no power, nothing, but we just knew it would be the ultimate.
F: How did you even find The Foundry?
T: We were forced to leave Manhattan. In spring of 1982 we were living on 34th Street between Tenth and Eleventh, and we were given a rent increase from about $4,000 to $10,000 a month. The landlord found a loophole in the lease - it was crazy. The devil of the landlord we cursed AND cursed for over a year happened to be the best thing that happened to us because he forced us to move. Each weekend Dagny and I would drive to the Bronx, Hoboken, Jersey City, downtown, uptown, and Queens looking for something special. We came pretty close to deciding on a couple of buildings, but this one, even though it was much bigger than we needed, had something very special about it.
T: When we came here there was an engineer named Eddie Booker who worked here in the building since the time of the second World War. When we got here, he had been here for about 40 years, and we kept him on for another 20 years. He knew every brick, pipe, and electrical line of this building, so we kept him on when the ice cream company went bankrupt and left.
F: So the rumors are true? There was an old ice cream factory here.
T: It was called The Mayflower Ice Cream Factory. They had all the buildings along Vernon Boulevard. It was great at first, and to be honest, the money we got from the rent there helped a lot with the mortgage. The problem was after a few years they went bankrupt and almost took us down with it. Luckily, the bank was pretty good in those days. I think for about six months we only paid interest on the mortgage, which was amazing.
F: When you gutted the place, did you find anything worth keeping? Like a lifetime supply of ice cream cones?
T: (Laughs) Not exactly, but something even more interesting. When we bought this building, there was so much garbage here--from old cars to trucks, we had to use these forty by forty yard containers to clear out the rubbish. Amongst all the relics of the garbage from the ice cream factory, we found matchboxes for Du Val French Vanilla Ice Cream.
T: Pure coincidence or I actually like to look at it as a bit of destiny. Imagine matchboxes for a brand of one of ice creams here with our name on it! I still have them stored away in safekeeping.
F: Most people assume, because it was a working foundry in the early 1900‘s that this second level mezzanine was here. But it was you who had the vision to add it, correct?
T: Yes. I saw scenes out of old factories where they had mezzanines. For example, Arsenale in Venice has mezzanine levels. Other places had these amazing arcades. This is one of the few buildings in New York like this, and to us it’s important to keep some of that heritage; some respect for the past. We can take credit for the restoration, but we can’t take credit for the design. Our goal was to do something very simpatico with the original work, but the magic was already here. Last thing you want to do is get in the way and muck it up.
F: Clearly being from Australia, you were inspired by stuff from back home as well.
T: Definitely. There are Victorian era shopping arcades that I’ve seen in Sydney with shops, mezzanine levels, and big central skylights.
F: So tell me about The Foundry’s new space, The Greenhouse.
T: It’s a good space. When I go to weddings, I can’t stand being stuck at a table with people I don’t know. The music is loud, you can’t talk to anybody at the table, or let alone enjoy yourself. So I think it’s always really great to have a space where you can get away, but still be part of the party. The Greenhouse is another space to give you that opportunity to do other things, give you that versatility.
T: Wow. Well, long term, I’d like to see porches and terraces, like porticos coming off the courtyard, and become more like a community for the tenants. As more people move into the neighborhood, I imagine a bakery or cafe here, where you can get your muffins and coffee. Maybe some restaurants would move in, that sort of thing.
F: Whose idea was it to do weddings? Or did it just evolve that way?
T: Well, even when we were on 34th Street, The Du Val’s were notorious for doing parties on a large scale. A wedding happened to be one of the first events we did here. A friend of mine, John Fisher, and his bride told us that they wanted to get married here. I promised them it would be ready. That was a huge incentive for us to get it done on time.
F: You and Dagny MUST realize the impact this place has had on hundreds of couples that have said their vows, commitments, etc. You guys are literally responsible for that.
T: Really, show me the check (laughs). We want people to be happy. We feel very special about it. I don’t want anybody to ever come here and complain and have their night destroyed. I’m so proud of our daughter Allison making sure that there is someone really good on call, to make sure the events are as perfect as we can make them.
F: Can you recall a time where things went a little haywire?
T: Not really, but one of the caterers had been given by the groom a very special bottle of Don Perignon champagne to set aside, so when they got in the limo at the end of the event, he would have it to open for his wife. Somehow it got lost during the event. In desperation, Allison called me and asked, “Do you have any Dom Perignon?” Luckily it was good year, and I happen to have six bottles of it available. I gave it to the caterer to chill.
F: Did you ever get that bottle back from the caterers?
T:(laughs) I did. They knew it was a good year and they made sure the bottle they replaced it with another equally good vintage.
F: With weddings, filming, special events, and photo shoots, what do you think is the secret to making it all work?
T: Having Allison and a small team helps. There are fewer problems with The Foundry than when I had 60 people working for me at Plant Specialists. We’ve got top-end people working with us, and that makes a BIG difference.
F: Allison gets shy when talked about and praised, so lets go there. She was young when you moved here, correct?
T: She was probably a year old and half. It was rough at the time because there was no heat, no services, nothing. Dagney and I lived in a construction trailer in the Courtyard. There would be rats dancing around partying. We had a lot of people breaking into the building in those days. It was not very safe. So we sent Allison to Washington State to stay with her aunt for a few months.
T: (laughs) Well, maybe when she was 16 or 17, she rebelled, but she was pretty good. If anything she was patient with us. You know like any parents these days, we were a bit on a mission trying to keep our heads above water, Dag and I worked a lot, a lot. On weekends we would be exhausted. I don’t think we were perfect parents, but luckily she turned out beautifully.
F: You guys must be proud.
T: Very proud. The only problem now is that we need to make an appointment to see her (laughs). She’s hard to track down. She works really hard. This place wouldn’t have worked without her. She’s actually got more of a special talent for making the whole concept of The Foundry a sucess. I think Dagny and I will take the credit for the creation of it and the maintenance and running of it, but the business wouldn’t be doing anything like its doing unless she’s the one making the deals to rent it, negotiating all the contracts, marketing and selling it, etc. When I had it, it would’ve been beautifully done, but not a business.
F: Was it hard at first to let her run things?
T: No. I’m pretty protective of the space and for the first few years I was possessive. I don’t want people coming in who I don’t know. I would be pushing half of the people that applied out the door and saying no. But Allison has literally just taken it, and solely from her efforts has made it as popular as it is. Look, I’d rather just build and do construction and let that be.
F: I have a disrespectful marriage question that I’m dying to ask, but I’m warning you - it might get me fired.
T: There’s only one way to find out.
F:(laughs) So when you first moved in here, there were all of these wonderful unique spaces at The Foundry with all kinds of nooks and crannies. Were you and Dagny able to christen every room?
T: (Long Pause followed by another long pause...I quickly start to sweat then...) Inside The Foundry? Yes. Let’s just say the music of Etta James has been very good to us.
F: (Laughs) Last question. After decades of renovating a house in Italy to perfection, you’ve recently decided to sell it and start new again. Do you think you’ll ever retire?
T: I don’t think so. I keep thinking each one is the last project, but the answer is no. We love the idea of doing new projects. Projects are fun. Sometimes you don’t think so at the time. When you look back and get the satisfaction of something and bring the best you can do out of it it’s very satisfying and I’m very proud of that. I don’t really sit back and revel in success. I tend to look at more things that need to be done. We’re very lucky that we have this mission to get all these things done. There’s not enough time. If I win the lottery, I would put everyone on this project and get it all finished.
F: Ooh, if you win, then maybe I can get a raise!
T: Don’t push it!
