In 1976, long before establishing himself professionally, Greg Gomes showed early signs of craftsmanship excellence by winning Best of Show at the state fair for a handcrafted set of fireplace bellows. A decade later in 1986, he obtained his General Contractor’s license, marking his first formal step into construction, though woodworking quickly captured his interest. The pivotal year came in 1989 when Greg approached Clay Deeds with remarkable determination, simply stating, “You are going to hire me, I want to learn about cabinets.” Within just three months, he was producing most of Deeds’ woodwork. That same year, he completed his first truly custom commission—an S-curve rolltop desk traded for essential tools—and founded Classic Cabinets in Alameda, despite nearly two dozen businesses sharing the same name throughout the Bay Area.