Davis Furniture Industries history

Soon after John Davis, Jr. came back from the war in late 1945, he joined the family business as a manager.

With success came the need for more space, so a parcel of land was purchased at 602 Linden St (the company’s current location) and a new building was constructed in 1953.

1955: Stow & Davis adds former Phoenix furniture factory to its downtown campus.

In 1961, Davis introduced their first ever contract seating program.

1962: Stow & Davis organizes “Executive Furniture guild,” with exclusive dealerships offering a complete line of decorator services along the lines of the Grand Rapids Furniture Makers Guild.

The “Electa Series” was introduced circa 1968, and featured freestanding pieces with rigid International Modern chromed steel frames, which supported interchangeable panels of walnut, textured vinyl, or smoked glass.

The same year, 1969, was also the year Davis released its first casegoods collection.

Harty desks, design by M.F. Harty circa 1974, featured massive slabs of rounded walnut floating atop a base of mirror chrome steel.

In addition to his role as head designer, which he held until his retirement in 1975, he also produced some of the miniature sales samples that were carried by company salesmen.

At the start of the New Year in 1976, Danny Davis (the current president) joined his father in the family business.

Throughout the 1980’s, Davis released several new designs from European designers.

1985: Steelcase, Inc. acquires Stow & Davis Furniture Co.

1988: Stow & Davis opens million-plus-square-foot plant in Kentwood, Michigan; closes downtown Grand Rapids plants.

1991: Stow & Davis acquires Interior Woodworking Corp. of New Paris, Indiana, and Wigand Corp. of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Avon Lakes, Ohio.