HALFWAY — Bill and Michelle Wilson didn’t intend to have a coffee shop.

Or make clocks.

Their focus was cabinets, a business nearly 40 years in the making. But then a location came available in Halfway, and the couple decided it was the perfect place to relocate Wilson Cabinets Inc.

But it also had a space previously used for a coffee business — Quilts Plus and Espresso to a Tea, which was owned by Jerry and Roberta Bryan and closed in July 2018.

“I said ‘Do you want to own a coffee shop?’” Bill said, grinning at Michelle across the table. “She said ‘OK.’”

That was in 2018. These days the rich smell of espresso mingles with the woodworking — and often overlap, when employee Tanner Seal is called from building cabinets to lend a hand in the coffee shop.

Cornucopia Coffee House and Wilson Cabinets are located at 280 S. Main St. in Halfway.

Most days find Michelle creating coffee drinks for customers, while Bill is busy building cabinets.

Except when he’s making clocks — an experiment that has quickly grown into a unique aspect of their combined businesses.

“It was just for decoration for the coffee shop,” he said.

“Someone said ‘Is that for sale?’ I said absolutely,” Michelle said with a smile.

Now, some 400 clocks later, the coffee house walls display a variety of clocks — some made from round cap ends of wine barrels that he bought from a winery in Milton-Freewater.

“It’s beautiful oak,” Bill said.

He used the curved barrel pieces, called staves, to make rocking chairs, and the metal rings were repurposed for clocks.

“We don’t throw anything away,” Bill said.

Indeed, most of the clocks are made with board ends left from the cabinetry work.

“All of it’s scrap — all mill ends,” he said.

Each clock is unique. Bill and Tanner experiment with different font styles and graphics, such as a mountain silhouette or an elk outline. They’ve also created custom clocks with specific names or brands.

Another project is making a variety of signs, which add to the offerings of home decor, blankets, candles and more.

“What was just for fun has caused us more work,” Bill said with a laugh, looking around the coffee shop walls full of these extra projects.

As the holidays near, he said they’ll start adding new designs to the offerings.

To see the full selection, visit the Cornucopia Coffee House. A clock is also on display at the Baker County Chamber of Commerce gift shop, 490 Campbell St. in Baker City.