The Kittinger Company
The Kittinger Company was founded in Buffalo, New York in 1866 as "Thompson, Collie & Co." Around 1870 the company began crafting hand-made upholstered furniture and by this time had changed its name to "Colie & Son" after George and Oliver Colie took control. The furniture business proved so successful for the Colie's that in 1885 they built a factory specifically for the crafting of furniture.
In 1913, Irvine J. Kittinger, George Colie's son-in-law and his brother Ralph purchased the company from the Collie family and changed the company's name to the Kittinger Furniture Company. Under the Kittinger family's control, the company's primary focus was to craft the highest quality furniture possible with Irvine J. Kittinger saying "Our business is not primarily to turn furniture into money, but to produce something really worthwhile".
In 1966, the Kittinger family sold the company which began the era of "revolving door" ownership. Although respect for the furniture industry varied by various owners, the quallity of Kittinger Furniture remained excelltn and was always the pride of its skilled workers. Unfortunately, due to mismanagement and legal issues during one of the owners, Kittinger Funiture was forced to close its iconic Elmwood Avenue factory and the companies assets were scheduled for auction.
In 1996, Ray (a Master Cabinetmaker at Kittinger) and Karen Bialkowski purchased the Kittinger Furniture Company. They re-established the company and settled in a new factory in North Buffalo at 4675 Transit Road. Many of the original craftsmen returned to work for the re-opened company. Since taking ownership, Ray and Karen have expanded the Kittinger Furniture Company. In 2014, the Kittinger Furniture Company opened a new factory and headquarters where all furniture is still made to order by the hands of skilled craftsmen.
Kittinger Furniture Company has had the honor of helping recreate the Oval office and Cabinet Room several times over at the libraries of former presidents. Since the 1970s they have crafted pieces for the following: The Richard M. Nixon Library & Museum, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Libary, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, George H. W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, The William J. Clinton Library & Museum and the George W. Bush Presidential Center.