WELCOME TO FURNITURE CITY!
Early success in Grand Rapids is made possible by the Grand River, surrounding geography, and ingenuity of the people. Plentiful in timber from surrounding woodlands, Grand Rapids became a hub for manufacturing furniture. As early as 1848, merchants traveled to Grand Rapids to restock their stores. In 1878, more formal markets rose and mass manufacturing began. West Michigan fostered nearly 800 furniture makers from past to present, and became known as the “Furniture City,” pioneers in quality and style throughout the industry. To emphasize their title and standards across the nation, Grand Rapids began using their name as a trademark– so prestigious that retailers outside of Grand Rapids attempted to use the logo fraudulently! Today, many furniture makers still thrive in Grand Rapids.