Hand-Crafted ‘Johnny Benches’ Bring Character to Centre Market
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WHEELING - When the city of Wheeling purchased a set of new matching benches as part of its ongoing improvements at Centre Market, local craftsman John Warnick had to remove several of his hand-made benches that had become a familiar sight around the market houses for years.
But patrons to the Friendly City’s unique and historic shopping and dining destination don’t have to look far to see Warnick’s work.
Warnick enjoys working with wood, and he makes Johnny Benches in his workshop in South Wheeling. In retirement, he has several ventures that keep him busy and engaged in the community, including the local "bicycle ministry" - The Free Bike Depot.
Other ventures aside, Warnick’s craftsmanship with Johnny Benches have been somewhat of a signature to him, and the heavy wooden benches - often engraved with slogans - have contributed to the local character of Centre Market for years.
"I build them, and I call it Johnny Benches because I’m John, and I build benches," he said. "A lot of people call me ‘Johnny Benches,’ and they know me. I do it because I enjoy it. I’ve got a bunch on my property, and other people have asked - so I’ve either donated or given or sold them."
Several years ago, Warnick made benches simply as a hobby and often donated them. He said he had never even considered selling a bench, but two larger benches he made for Centre Market ended up being purchased by the city. And customers at Centre Market really seemed to enjoy them, he noted.
"They love them," Warnick said. "People use them."
Artisan John Warnick poses in his South Wheeling workshop where he makes his regionally renowned Johnny Benches, a hobby he describes as a "labor of love." (Photo by Eric Ayres)
After selling the two benches to the city back when Kurt Zende was the Centre Market manager, Warnick eventually placed several others around the market houses for people to use.
"I kept several others down there," Warnick said. "I donated them, in a way, for people to sit. But they were primarily there for storage."
Johnny Benches donated many of the custom benches around town and around the Ohio Valley, and still does to this day. Warnick often gets requests for benches for special fundraisers, charitable organizations and for other purposes.
Each bench either has a small plaque or a section engraved with the name and phone number of the maker. In a way, it’s a functional billboard advertising where anyone interested in one of them can get their own custom benches made.
"I don’t do the engraving - I have a guy in Moundsville who does the engraving on a CMT machine. And that’s what sets them apart and really gives them curb appeal. My whole thing is - if it gives me a little visibility as far as people who may want benches - then great," he said. "It’s better to give than to receive."
This year, Warnick made a large, special bench for Centre Market and placed it there.
"I recently made a nice, big bench and put it at the head of the market," he said. "That had been down there, at most, for a month or two."
Not long after the big new bench was placed there, Warnick learned about the new benches that were planned for Centre Market. When the city of Wheeling allocated federal pandemic relief money toward improvements at the market, the new, uniform set of benches, picnic tables and trash receptacles were part of the plan.
Warnick was asked to pick up the several benches that were being stored around Centre Market. The two original benches that had been purchased by the city remained, but were repositioned. New Centre Market Manager Brooke Price noted that members of the Centre Market Commission had identified a number of locations around the perimeter where other benches could be positioned.
"Timing was just off," Warnick said, noting that no one had asked him for the new, large Centre Market bench - he simply donated it. And he originally was unaware of the plans for ARPA money for the new purchases.
"A lot of people reached out to me about them," he said, since several of them had been removed. "Most of the benches have been at Centre Market for nearly a decade. Hundreds of local residents and business owners have thanked me for donating them for residents to sit on."
A new bench Warnick made for Centre Market this year did not stay at Centre Market for long, as new black metal benches which match new picnic tables and trash receptacles were recently purchased as part of ongoing improvements at the historic site. The new bench now sits in Warnick’s workshop in South Wheeling. (Photo by Eric Ayres)
Warnick said he removed nine benches from Centre Market. Before he removed the last one, he had to wait as a father took a picture of his 8-year-old daughter sitting on the "Welcome to Historic Centre Market" bench at the upper market house.
"When I pulled up in my truck to remove them, my heart did sink a little," he said. "I like to think that I’m a little force on the Wheeling scene. I was hoping that the bench would be part of my legacy left for market goers to enjoy for years to come."
Warnick had posted a photo on social media of the new benches when they arrived at Centre Market, noting his disappointment that most of the locally made benches had to be removed. Several people in the community rallied to his side, but Warnick took down the post soon afterward - noting that he did not intend to stir up a rift between himself and the city crews who are simply working hard to keep the market’s charm and functionality in top shape.
"My thoughts are that - I’m not going to buck what they’re doing," he said. "There’s no animosity or hurt feelings. But a lot of people have been really receptive to them."
There are still a number of other Johnny Benches in the Centre Market area, and Warnick said he hopes his craftsmanship continues to be a small part in what makes Wheeling great.
"I’m in harmony with everything that Wheeling is doing, and I’m blessed to be a part of it," Warnick said.
A bench crafted by Johnny Benches that for years sat outside of the upper Centre Market house in Wheeling today has a new home on a perimeter of Centre Market. (Photo by Eric Ayres)