History

For over 100 years Kindel remains one of the oldest furniture companies in America. Please use the arrows on the bar below to scroll through our historic timeline.
  • Charles J. Kindel founds the Company in St. Louis
    1901
  • Ground breaking for the current factory located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
    1912
  • Kindel patents an improved convertible bed, known as the very popular Kindel Parlor Bed
    1915
  • The Kindel Bed Co. becomes the Kindel Furniture Company
    1926
  • Charles M. Kindel and his son Thomas Kindel assume company leadership duties
    1936
  • House & Garden advertisement launched national ad campaign targeting woman in magazines
    1941
  • Chuck Kindel helps found the Grand Rapids War Industries, a group of 12 furniture companies who produced wood glider plane parts for World War II.
    1943
  • Kindel introduces the French Provincial Collection
    1956
  • Kindel introduces the Italian Provincial Collection
    1957
  • John W. Fisher of Muncie, Indiana purchases Kindel
    1964
  • Kindel purchases the Michigan Chair Co.
    1968
  • Kindel introduces its first upholstery line
    1969
  • The China Trade Collection introduced Kindel's talent of Chinoiserie decoration on furniture
    1978
  • Kindel is awarded the Winterthur License
    1980
  • The Winterthur Museum Collection is launched at the High Point Furniture Market
    1982
  • Kindel is awarded the Irish Georgian Society license
    1984
  • The Winterthur Desk & Bookcase sells at Christie's for $12.1 million. Kindels reproduction sells for $21,393
    1989
  • Kindel is awarded a "Woman in the Workplace" award for the high percentage of woman in manufacturing leadership roles
    1996
  • Kindel establishes a relationship with the Greenbrier Hotel and participates in renovations of public areas and rooms
    1999
  • Kindel introduces the Varney & Sons Collection
    2000
  • Kindel is awarded the Mount Vernon License
    2006
  • Kindel presents a 23 foot custom conference table to Mount Vernon for historic meeting between President Bush & French President Sarkozy
    2007
  • Varney & Sons Collection becomes the Dorothy Draper Collection
    2008
  • 2010 Kindel merges with The Taylor Company and moves to 4047 Eastern Ave SE in Grand Rapids.
    2010
  • Kindel attends the Architectural Digest Home Show in a new sales and marketing strategy for 2011.
    2011