Ferndale DIY Profile: Chris Best, Owner of Rust Belt Market

Many of the participants in this have mentioned Rust Belt Market. Chris Best and his wife Tiffany are the owners of the latest edition to Ferndale's DIY landscape. 

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Chris Best. My wife and I started the Rust Belt Market in May. I am a former tradesman and Tiffany was a former landscaper. We quit both of our jobs in order to give our fledgling business our full attention.

2. What does DIY mean to you?

DIY means mixed things to me. At first it makes me cringe. The DIY movement over the past 15 years has given rise to the do it yourself homeowners fixing their own plumbing or building their own deck. Some guys can pull it off with great success. Others should not even own a tool. Being in the trades for so many years I have fixed a lot of weekend warrior homeowner's best efforts. But hey, the movement gave rise to Lowes and Home Depot, which I find enormously convenient (you know you have heard the guy in the plumbing aisle asking the 20-year-old HD worker how to use PVC cement to put pipe together).

3. Tell us about a DIY project (or projects) you have worked on and why it was DIY.

I built my own signs for The Rust Belt front and back. The one on the front is eleven feet in diameter and the rear sign is eight feet. My landlord was so nervous when I told him I was making my own sign. I bet the city of Ferndale and neighboring businesses were too. I also did the barn beam gallery wall and stage inside the market.

4. Why does the DIY attitude fit Ferndale?

I believe DIY means art and craft to most of Ferndale. It fits Ferndale over other cities because the good people of Ferndale get it. They just get it! We were actually going to do the Rust Belt in Birmingham at one point. HA! It seems funny now. B-Ham gets Gucci, Versace, Coach and Prada. They don't get DIY. Don't get me wrong, when I feel like I want to be fancy, I take Tiffany to Dick O'Dows on Maple Street and we walk around and pretend to be glamorous (which we are clearly not). We love Ferndale!

5. Who is your favorite DIY artist/musician/human?

My Dad. He is that guy I spoke of in question No. 2. God love him. Growing up he knew just enough about the trades to be dangerous. He did it because he couldn't afford to hire it done. He even said if he started a construction company he would call it "Close Enough Construction". His work ethic and tenacity rubbed off and it has left a lasting effect on me. I love you dad!

This profile is part of Ferndale Patch's month-long  where we talk with residents, artists, musicians, crafters, anyone with an opinion about DIY. The project will lead up to the DIY Street Fair Sept. 16-18.