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We live in a world where we’ve become accustomed to free or cheap shipping: free two-day shipping on that new laptop that you bought from Amazon Prime, or a flat $5.99 shipping on that silver charm bracelet that you got your wife for mother’s day. Those items ship via small package carriers like the US Postal Service, UPS Ground, or FedEx. They’re limited in size, weighing only a couple of pounds on average, and arrive at your front door in days.

Not all goods are as easy, or as cheap, to ship, however. Take restaurant furniture, for example. It’s big, bulky, heavy, and often ordered in multiple pieces (think 40 chairs, 10 bar stools, and 10 tables). For that reason, furniture is put on pallets and ships via a different method called less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier. LTL carriers take large palletized freight, and deliver it to your business on large semi-trucks.

There are many factors that determine the cost of shipping restaurant furniture via LTL carrier, some are obvious, and others, while not immediately apparent, make sense when you think about them. Here is a short list of the most important variables in the shipping calculation, along with a brief explanation.

Distance Between Shipper & Customer

The distance between the shipper and the customer (receiver) is one of the more obvious factors in the cost of shipping; we naturally expect that shipping from Boston to California will be more expensive than, say, shipping from Pennsylvania to Ohio. More distance means higher fuel costs and more driver time (wages). In addition, long trips often require a team of drivers that can alternate driving time in order to get the shipment to its destination in a timely manner.

Location

Shippers have what are called “good lanes” and “bad lanes”. A good lane is one that sees a lot of daily freight traffic, so the carrier knows that if they send a truck to that location, the odds are good that they will be able to fill the truck on the return trip. A bad lane is one in which there isn’t a lot of freight coming out, which means that the carrier may have to return empty, or only partially full. If a carrier can’t fill the truck, then they are making less money, or even losing money, on that trip. If a lane is bad for a carrier, then they will often charge more per piece to compensate themselves for the fact that they may not be able to fill the truck on the return. One prime example of a “bad lane” is Florida. There is a lot of freight going in to Florida, but not much coming out (for various reasons), so carriers will often charge a premium to deliver there.

Destination Type (Residential, Commercial, or Limited Access)

Customers often ask why it costs more to send a shipment to their home than it does to send the same shipment to their business. There are actually many reasons, but we’ll just list a few. First, businesses tend to be located in areas where large trucks can easily get in and out (if not, then they’re called limited access locations and are subject to the same fees as residential locations). Residential streets, on the other hand, are often too narrow for large semis to maneuver, so carriers have to send in a smaller truck, which means more handling of your freight. Second, businesses generally have somebody (or multiple people) and equipment on hand during business hours to unload the truck quickly and efficiently. Carriers know that they can just show up, open their doors, and the employees of the business will take care of the rest. With residential delivery, carriers have to call ahead to coordinate delivery, work around the homeowner’s schedule, and wait there until they unload the truck – often by hand.

Size of the Shipment

To simplify this point, let’s say you’re an LTL carrier that delivers from New York City to Orlando, FL. You know that to cover your costs and make a profit, you need to charge $3000 per truck for the trip. Now, a customer comes along and wants to ship 100 barstools to Orlando, which will take up about ⅓ of the truck. How much do you need to charge them? Of course, $1000! Now this is an over-simplification of the complex algorithms that carriers use to determine freight rates, but it does illustrate the point that the more of the truck you take up with your shipment, the more you pay.

Weight of the Shipment

You might be tempted to think that weight is the biggest factor in determining your freight costs, but that would be wrong. Weight does play a role, but it’s a smaller role than other variables. For example, according to one freight carrier website, you can ship a 48” x 48” x 60” pallet that weighs 200 pounds from Mercer, PA to Beverly Hills, CA (thank you Beverly Hills 90210 for being perpetually stuck in my brain and giving me a test zip code for life) for around $300. If we double the weight to 400 pounds, the rate only goes up around $50. Triple the weight, and you only increase another $20. How is this possible? Freight shippers use something called freight class, which is based on the density of your shipment: large, light materials have a high freight class, while smaller, denser materials have a lower freight class. As we raise the weight of the shipment, our density calculations go up, and our freight class goes down, which means that our overall rate only goes up a little bit for each additional pound that we ship.

Additional Services (Accessorials)

Accessorials are small additional services carriers provide that add up in a big way. Need a phone call before delivery? That’ll be up to $25, please. Want a lift gate to lower your pallets to the ground? They can range between $50 up to $200 depending on the carrier. Want the driver to bring your freight into the building? Don’t even ask! The point is that accessorial charges can be expensive, and should be avoided when possible.

As you’ve probably noticed, LTL freight is different from small package shipping in many ways. It can sound expensive at first, but there are two important things to remember.

1. If you put 20 chairs on a pallet and it costs $200 to ship them, then that is only $10 per chair. If you were to ship the same number of chairs individually via small package delivery, the cost would be much higher.
2. Truly free shipping is pretty much non-existent. You are almost always paying the freight, even if it doesn’t seem like it. It might come in the form of higher prices or reduced service levels, but shipping is always part of the cost of ordering restaurant furniture.

We hope this guide shed some light on the often confusing world of LTL freight and the true cost of shipping restaurant furniture.

If you have any additional questions, our shipping department is always happy to help. Just give us a call 800-986-5352.

Something even the most knowledgeable restaurant owners seem to be unsure of is when they should order furniture for their new restaurant. In the world of express shipping and Amazon Prime, consumers tend to think that they don’t need to order things very far in advance. This is not the case with commercial furniture. When asking yourself “when should I order my furniture?” The answer is: the sooner the better.

Ideally, you should begin your search at around 10 weeks before you want the furniture to arrive. It seems like a lot of time, but it will go by faster than you think.  Starting earlier gives you time to research, place the order, and receive the furniture before your opening.

The time it takes for your furniture to arrive on your doorstep is dependent upon a couple different factors. This first of which is the type of furniture you order. Items that are custom built such as reclaimed booths, or custom vinyl seats, have a production time, where other items might not.

By calling in advance, you can also check the stock of the item you have your eye on. Popular items sell out quickly. Stock fluctuates daily and can affect your expected arrival date. Even if an item says out of stock it is good to call and see when the next shipment is arriving. The earlier you call the better to either reserve your items, or get your name on the preorder list.

Transit time is another factor in your furniture’s arrival. Most large furniture items ship LTL. You’ll want to take into account the location of the place you are ordering from in relation to where you are located. Items traveling from across the United States are going to take longer than items coming from across the state.

Purchasing outdoor furniture can be a little different than purchasing indoor items. If you are looking to get outdoor furniture for the spring/summer season, February is a good time to order. You want to have your furniture before the weather breaks and customers start asking to sit on your patio. Waiting too long to call could put you in the danger zone of not being able to receive your furniture until part way through the season.

It is best to order your restaurant furniture well before your open date, about 10 weeks, to make sure that you can get the items you want, in the time frame that works for you. If you have your eye on some pieces that we offer at East Coast Chair & Barstool, you can get your order started today by calling our Customer Care Team at 800-986-5352.

The rustic industrial design trend has been a favorite of restaurateurs for a while now but our Turnbuckle Table is here to shake up your décor, no matter the theme.

So what is it about this table that makes customers stop and stare when they enter your dining room? Meet the turnbuckle, a mechanism that can expand and contract table legs.

Traditionally, turnbuckles were used to sturdy the legs of old workbenches and is made up of two threaded eyebolts. One of these screws into each end of a small metal frame the other separates into a left-hand thread and right-hand thread. Turnbuckles are used to adjust the tension between cables or ropes. This tension is altered by rotating the frame, simultaneously screwing the eyebolts in and out, without twisting the eyebolts or attached cables.

Other uses for turnbuckle engineering include construction, aircraft, shipping, sports, entertainment industry, pipe systems, and now, restaurant furniture design.

Turnbuckle tables are especially popular in restaurants that have a very homey feel to provide contrast. Reminiscent of the workbench look, the combination of metal accents and vintage wood come together for an industrial feel in breweries, farmhouse-style restaurants, and coffee shops.

This turnbuckle table is made of reclaimed oak wood salvaged from vintage barns. Each table top is fully sanded and sealed with a heavy sealer to preserve the rustic elements that come with weathered wood. A steel turnbuckle connects the hand hewn, wood beam legs that is functional as well as aesthetic. Make this table all your own by choosing one of our three finishes: Natural Reclaimed, Antique Black, and Whitewash. Custom edging and additional premium finish options are also available.

Ever wonder how your recently ordered furniture will get to you? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that we get when it comes to receiving your shipped furniture.

How is my furniture being shipped to me?

LTL delivery is a common way that many furniture suppliers use when shipping furniture to customers. Items are usually put on a wood pallet and secured using plastic straps and/or shrink wrap. LTL delivery is used when items don’t fill the entire truck but are too large or heavy for parcel. With this delivery method, you are paying only for the space that the pieces of furniture take up.

What does LTL stand for?

LTL stands for “less than truckload”.

What determines how much delivery will cost?

To calculate LTL delivery costs, items are put into classes designated by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). There are 18 classes total. To place an item’s class depends the shipment’s density, stowability, handling, and value. The lower the class, the cheaper it is to ship the item. For example, a steel chair ships at class 250 because they have a high density. Meanwhile, aluminum furniture ships at a class 300 because it takes up more space but has less weight. Other possible costs include fuel surcharges, expedited delivery fees, and where the end destination is located.

What is lift-gate service? Is it included?

A lift-gate raises and lowers items from the back of the truck to the ground. This is not included in the shipping quote are given unless you ask for it. If a truck that delivers your items has a lift-gate and you use it but did not pay for it, you will be charged as if you had requested it.

Will the carrier call me to let me know when my order is being delivered?

For an additional fee, they can call you with a timeframe.

Can I change the shipping address once the item has shipped?

Yes, it is possible to change the shipping address by contacting the carrier. However, a reconsignment fee will be charged.

Will the driver take the items off the truck?

No, we recommend that you have some extra help with you to take items off the truck.

Will the driver take my shipment inside?

No, however, an “inside delivery” option can be added for a fee.

Can I use a forklift to take the items off the truck?

Yes, this could help you get the items off the truck because they’re on pallets. Don’t use forklift on booths or oversized tables, these items are easily damaged.

What do I do if my furniture is damaged?

Regardless of what condition your furniture arrives in, you need to accept the delivery. You will receive a delivery receipt where you can note the damages. From there, you will need to contact our service department about the damages.

For more information on how to accept a tailgate delivery, check out our video below!

Save

Besides purchasing or leasing the actual space for your restaurant, buying commercial furniture is another obvious cost that you will have to shell out for. Regardless of the physical size of your business and how many pieces you are buying, ordering furniture is no small undertaking. Whether you are a first-time purchaser or a seasoned restaurant owner of 30 years, there are five regrets you will want to avoid when outfitting your restaurant or bar.

So you didn’t measure your space…

You are buying furniture to fill your space, but not to the brim. Knowing how much space you have to work with allows you to choose the correct amounts and sizes of furniture you need. In the end, inaccurate measurements can cost you some serious cash. If you don’t have enough furniture, you won’t be maximizing your revenue opportunities. From there, if you have to order more, you will not only have to add on the cost of the additional pieces, but also the shipping and handling that comes along with it. It’s simply best to order it right the first time with the most accurate dimensions.

So you didn’t take your customers into account…

When it comes to furnishing your restaurant, knowing your targeted demographic can help you make a decision on what styles to select. Who are your regular customers? For example, if you’re a family-oriented establishment that considers messy toddlers a large portion of your market, you should focus on tables and booths that are easy to wipe down and clean.

Likewise, if your customers are interested in a finer dining setting, look into high back, cushioned chairs in a dark color that make sitting feel exclusive.

Think like your customer when you’re buying your furniture. What would you want to sit on and dine on top of?

 

 

 

 

So you didn’t coordinate with your restaurant’s theme…

Minimalist design, a light green and white color palette, and natural-wooded accents. Would you stuff heavy, dark restaurant booths along the wall? No, because it doesn’t flow with the theme.

Themes tie all the loose décor ends together for a cumulative design scheme that just makes sense. And décor does not stop at wall hangings; it includes your furniture! Coordinating your furniture to go with your theme is vital to completing your restaurant vision.

So you didn’t think about your environment…
It can be expensive to buy restaurant furniture. So when you go about purchasing, you want to make sure durability is a top priority. Wood tables are a popular choice for many restaurants. Despite their versatile look, these table tops can crack or split because of excessive heat, cold, and dryness. Wood tops should be kept at 68°-72°F, with humidity between 40-45%, and proper air circulation to avoid damage. For seaside restaurants, choosing furniture that can endure the heavy beating of salt spray and buildup is crucial. A strong poly lumber will hold up far better than wrought iron. For all-weather outdoor furniture, invest in aluminum or synthetic wicker pieces to be on your patio.

When selecting the furniture for your space, keep in mind what goes on outside your restaurant’s window and the amount of maintenance you’re ready to commit to.

So you didn’t think about your restaurant’s strategy…

Are you a sit-down eatery where customers are encouraged to stop and stay awhile? Or are you focused on punctual and speedy service to turn and burn your tables? Whether you’re on either end of the spectrum or somewhere between, your restaurant furniture should reflect this mission. For those slow down bistros, furniture should be geared towards coziness like padded seats and comfy booths. For quicker-paced restaurants, the focus can be on more streamlined, metal pieces with clean lines that communicate a no-nonsense feeling. Your restaurant’s strategy can make a statement through your furniture, so definitely take that into consideration when you order.
Opening or upgrading your restaurant can be a lot of pressure. The best way to avoid regrets when buying your furniture is to take into consideration your space, customers, theme, environment, and strategy. It’s your restaurant, so the creativity is up to you!

Have a regret that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below!

 

It takes a chunk of change to furnish a bar or restaurant.  And when you spend that “chunk” on commercial grade items, you want to see them last.  Proper maintenance and cleaning is the key to long lasting furniture but it won’t fix some common problems that may arise.  So, if they are common problems, shouldn’t you then be able to avoid these issues if they are happening everywhere?  Absolutely!  Our hope is that by providing you with this information, you are able to take a proactive approach to caring for you bar and restaurant furniture so that these common issues don’t happen to you.  Like the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention can be worth a pound of cure.”

 

Problem #1:  “The metal legs on my chair and/or bar stool are bending and don’t seem as strong.”

Solution:  Damage to the legs of chairs or bar stools often stems from improper use by customers and staff, something that can happen on a regular basis.  For example, customers may lean back in their chair putting all of their weight on the back two legs. Yikes!  If you see this happening, politely ask the customer to refrain from doing this in hopes to keep the leg strength strong…and of course to save your customer from getting hurt.  Another example is when staff members unknowingly use a chair or bar stool improperly.  As a standard procedure when sweeping and mopping floors, most restaurant staff members place the chairs upside down on the tables.  They clean the floors, let them dry, and proceed to lower the chairs back to the floor.  The issue arises when the staff member slams the chair or bar stool onto the floor with such force that the leg strength is compromised.  After this occurs many times, it can in fact make the legs of chairs and bar stools look bent.  To avoid this, it’s important to show and/or communicate to staff members the proper procedure to gently lower chairs and bar stools back onto the floor so as to keep the legs nice and strong.

 

 

Problem #2:  “My chairs and/or bar stools are scratching up my flooring.”

 

Solution:  Scratches on floors from chairs and bar stools are often due to the absence or wearing of one or more floor glides.  Floor glides are the pieces of rubber or hard plastic that are placed on the bottom of the legs of a chair or bar stool to protect the floor.  Without them, the chair will scrape along the floor, cause some scratch marks, and even make a sound that can be like fingernails down a chalkboard.  To avoid this, be sure to regularly check the wear of floor glides as well as that they are all in place.  It’s also a good idea to keep a few extra glides on hand, just in case.  Following these suggestions will keep your floors scratch free and looking fabulous.

 

 

Problem #3: “My tables are peeling, staining, or cracking.”

Solution:  It’s important to be aware of what your table tops are made of and how to properly care for them, especially when it comes to wood table tops.  In the case of wood, it is a natural material that expands and contracts with the changes in temperature.  With any wood product, including table tops, it is important to keep them away from direct heat to avoid cracking.  When we say direct heat, we mean in direct sunlight through a window, under a heating vent, or in a warm area that can become humid and warm from the heat of a hot oven.  It is equally as important to not place a hot tray, sizzling pan, pizza pan/pizza box, or anything right out of the oven directly on the wood top, or any table top for that matter.  If there is no way around it, invest in products to protect the table tops from heat generated from hot foods like a hot plate or an elevated pizza tray.  These items will be worth your money and you won’t have to witness an altering of your table top finishes or heat stains that will appear if you’re not extra careful.

 

 

Problem #4: “My chairs and/or bar stools are wobbly.”

Solution:  If you are experiencing wobbly chairs or bar stools, first check the floor glides to make sure that all four are present and not worn out.  If they are in place and not causing the wobble, loose screws that were either not tightened at assembly or have worked loose over time could be the issue.  With regard to assembly, a lot of commercial restaurant furniture companies ship their chairs and bar stools with the seats unattached.  This enables them to stack the furniture and ship more products at a lower price.  Also, by packing the seats tightly together, it reduces the likelihood of shipping damages.  So, when assembling your seats on site, it is important to follow the proper instructions as well as use the suggested tools with the hardware provided.  Make sure that screws are snug and not too tight so as to avoid further damage to the seat.  In addition, it is just as important to routinely check the hardware on all tables, chairs, and bar stools, and tighten them as needed.

 

Problem #5: “My furniture isn’t lasting as long as I thought it would.”

Solution:  When purchasing furniture for your bar or restaurant, it is important to know where these items are going to be placed and how they are going to be used.  If you need chairs, bar stools, and tables for an indoor dining area, it is important to purchase items that are intended for indoor use.  The same goes for outdoor furniture items.  An outdoor chair, bar stool, or table intended for outdoors, should only be used outdoors.  Or, maybe you want items that can be transferred to and from an indoor space to an outdoor space.  Buying items that have this dual use is the key.  Also, chairs and bar stools are meant to be sat in and tables are meant to be used for eating off of.  Any other uses that customers or staff might be using them for can affect the longevity of the item.  Staff and management should be aware of the intended use of all restaurant furniture and doing what is necessary to make sure that use is maintained.

 

 

Buying restaurant furniture is an investment.  As with any investment, you want to protect it so that you get your use out of it for years to come.  But along with that comes your responsibility to do what it takes to keep your furniture in its most pristine state.  Taking care of your items with the suggestions above will help deter common problems and likely, will last for the years that you were hoping for.

 

 

We are really excited to announce the grand opening of our new showroom, and we’re calling our customers and our community to come check us out!

We’ll be hosting a morning coffee break open house on Thursday, January 31, 2013 from 9 to 11 a.m., at our new facility at 966 Perry Highway.  The event will be catered by Beans on Broad of Grove City, and guests will enjoy meeting all of the employees (including me!), be entered to win a door prize, and each receive a small gift of appreciation.  The Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce will perform a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. to welcome us to the neighborhood.  As many of our readers know, we recently relocated from a downtown Grove City location.

“We are thrilled to be in our new office and warehouse space!” exclaims Janene DiSanti, co-owner of East Coast Chair & Barstool.  “My husband, Dave, and I started this business in our Slippery Rock home ten years ago, and we have worked hard to grow what began as an eBay hobby. Today, we are fortunate to have a great team of staff and are excited for the opportunities our new, larger location is giving us.”

 

We are a national hospitality furniture retailer, and we are proud to be an authorized dealer of many national furniture manufacturers; plus, we directly import several commercial furniture product lines and have launched an in-house production.  Our staff of Amish craftsmen construct restaurant booths and solid wood tables from the workshop space in our new location.  Since moving in October, we’ve grown our in-house production, are now more convenient to the major interstates for shipping and receiving, and continue to expand our business.  Nearly doubling in staff size in 2012, we have 15 employees and ship to the 48 continental United States.  Selling to a range of business customers, from small corner bars to large theme parks, the company’s client base includes the Denver Broncos, the Mr. Hero restaurant chain, several Golden Corrals, and the local Springfield Restaurant Group, among others.

“The open house will give our new neighbors a chance to stop and see who we are and what we do,” explains Dave DiSanti, co-owner.  “I’m looking forward to meeting some new faces and letting the community know we are here.”

Click for our Beans & Barstools flyer.

IN THE NEWS…

East Coast Chair & Barstool, Inc., the national e-commerce restaurant furniture retailer, announces the addition of a new product line as they launch restaurant booth production at their headquarters in Grove City, Pa. The company has hired on authentic Amish craftsmen to join their staff and hand-craft the restaurant booths, which will both be available in-stock and as custom made-to-order purchases for their customers, who are mostly independent bar and restaurant owners.  This new line of restaurant booths complements the company’s existing lines of restaurant and resort furniture.

“Our quick ship restaurant booths are standard sizes and come upholstered in either black or wine vinyl,” explains owner Dave DiSanti.  “Customers can choose to customize their seating options with wood trim, different upholstery colors, or custom-fit sizes for a little bit of a longer lead time.  We have plans to add more options and other features as we learn what our customers want.”

Currently, the quick ship models are shipping in just 1-2 days.  Featuring a commercial grade, 22-ounce vinyl, the booths are designed with strength in mind and come with a 10-year structural warranty plus 1-year upholstery warranty.  Built with a solid wood construction, heavy duty springs, and welt seams, the booths have foam cushioning which is approved by California Fire Code 117. Restaurant booths are currently selling for as low as $175 for singles and $275 for doubles.

“We never jeopardize quality when we find ways to offer our products for less,” DiSanti says.  “We believe that America’s bar and restaurant owners should have restaurant furniture that looks great, lasts a long time, and is affordable.  I believe in the craftsmanship that our Amish employees bring to the production of these restaurant booths, and I know how lucky we are to be able to find such talent in our honest, hard-working staff.”

East Coast Chair & Barstool recently added booth seating to their three branded e-commerce Web sites and their eBay store.

“A lot of our customers were looking for restaurant booths, and we wanted to be able to meet those needs,” DiSanti says.  “When I looked at the other manufacturers’ products, I knew I could make the booths better and sell them for less.  That’s what our customers deserve.”

What size tables do I need?  How many people can fit comfortably at each table?  How many tables can I fit in my space?  How much room do I need to leave between tables?

These are all questions that run through your mind as you design the layout of your restaurant or banquet center. Choosing the correct elements is crucial for efficient operations and creating the ideal atmosphere for your guests. Here is a checklist of considerations you will need to address during planning.

Space Planning:

Figuring out your goals of the space will save a lot of headaches in the end.  You want to take stock of your main priorities with your space before taking any action. Determine what you as a business require from the space and run with it.

• Determine the square footage of your area. Physically, you must know how much room you have to work with in order to organize it.
• Make a list of all the functions you plan on using the space for (e.g., restaurant dining, banquet style seating, classroom/seminar seating, with or without dance floor, bar and cocktail areas, buffet or stage areas).
• Know what your brand is and how you want to portray that. The atmosphere that you are trying to convey to your public can be used as the inspiration for creating the layout.
• Understand customer expectations. There’s a fine line between what customers want from you and what you are able to do for them; find that line.

Brainstorm, brainstorm, and brainstorm! This is not something to just jump into; it requires time and effective planning to lay the creative foundation for your dream space. Now is the perfect stage to mentally move your ideas around without having to do any heavy lifting.

“When you’re working with a sales member, it’s important to know what your vision is so we can better serve you, the business owner. If you’re at a loss for inspiration, I recommend studying other people’s layouts in restaurants or bars. What works, what doesn’t work can jumpstart your own ideas.” – Chris Miller, Customer Care Specialist

 

Go the Distance:

It’s always helpful to have some requirements to keep mind while you’re getting the measurements you need for your space. Here are some industry-standards to help you when it comes to furniture placement.

• Allow 18″ from the edge of the table to the back of each seat
• Allow at least 12″ between chairs that are back-to-back
• Allow a minimum of 24″ of aisle or service space (please note, the Americans with Disability Act requires greater room in at least 5% of the dining area for wheelchairs)
• Allow 54″ between round tables and 60″ between rectangular tables to create the needed service space
• Allow 24″ – 30″ between table corners when placed diagonally
• Allow 12” between your seat and the bar or table

Map it out with the right materials. While taking the above measurements in mind, don’t forget to start with basics. Pull out the graph paper and set a scale to determine the approximate number of tables and chairs that will fit.

“Try drawing or modeling out your layout with chalk or boxes. This can give you a better idea of the space you’re working with, reducing mistakes when you order. It can help a sales team member be able to help you more efficiently.” – Chris Miller, Customer Care Specialist

 

Choose Your Table Shape and Size:

The most important part of selecting a table shape and size is that the tables have adequate space and go with your vision for your particular establishment.

• Square tables offer the most flexibility and are easiest to move around or rearrange. For a durable, streamlined option that’s easy to push together, check out our Isotop collection.
• Round tables are often considered the most elegant and are great for banquet seating. Drop leaf round tables can offer some additional flexibility in case you need to accommodate a large party.
• Rectangular tables are most common for the everyday dining experience because of their versatility. Our rustic  farm tables are a popular choice for large or small seating needs.

Follow our recommended table seating capacity chart, and think about how and what you serve to your customers.  Are you just a coffee and dessert establishment, or are you a fine dining restaurant that offers 8-course meals?  Envision everything that will be taking up space on your table tops.  Will you have candles, salt and pepper shakers, water pitchers, wine cantors, etc?  Do you serve full-course breakfasts that come on three plates per person?  Or do you serve bar food that takes up less space?  Keep all these things in mind when you choose your table size and how many chairs you put around each one. While it is recommended that each person have 2 feet of the table’s circumference or perimeter, or an estimated 300 square inches of table top space, your patrons may require more space depending on what you are serving.  On the same token, elementary school cafeterias would not need to offer as much space per person as a college or corporate cafeteria. These concepts are subjective to your needs.

Many restaurants incorporate varying sizes of tables to allow for maximum seating capacity, the flexibility to serve differing sizes of parties at the same time, and to create a more aesthetically appealing restaurant space.

A variety of seating styles can change up any area. Mixing booth or “anchored” tables (edge of table against wall) with floating tables is a great way to maximize space. Placing square tables diagonally also saves floor space and can restrict views from one table to another to create a more private dining experience for your guests.

Measuring/mapping your space out is crucial to avoid a mistake whenever you order. You don’t want to buy too many or too little tables and chairs. By knowing your space and what you can fit in it, the sales team can help from there. In the end, you don’t want to have to worry about shipping materials back or a restocking fee. It’s cheaper and more efficient to choose your products correct the first time.” – Chris Miller, Customer Care Specialist

 

Some Additional helpful tips:

 

• Check the local codes and be sure you always comply with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). As a rule, 5% of the total space should be accessible to people in wheelchairs. Wheelchairs typically require a 36″ clearance for aisle space in dining areas. Be sure the section of your establishment that is ADA-compliant is accessible to the entrance/exit and also public areas, such as the bathroom or cashier’s counter.
• Do you foresee rearranging tables frequently for different events? Be sure to purchase lightweight tables and chairs that will be easy to haul around, and choose ones that will not mar your floors. You may also be interested in purchasing a chair and table dolly to lighten your staff’s load.
• Want to be prepared for extra customers? Keep a few lightweight stacking chairs in storage in case you need to pull them out to accommodate larger parties.
• Not expecting a lot of movement? If you are a finer dining establishment, you may want to choose the larger table per recommended number of guests and purchase heavier chairs that create an illusion of being more prestigious and luxurious.

While these guidelines and recommendations are helpful starting points, laying out a unique restaurant or banquet space for your particular establishment and utilizing the space you have for your specific goals will take a lot of thought. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and design a great looking restaurant or banquet space that effectively meets you and your guests’ expectations!

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Check out our site for more tips and furniture to fill up your newly planned out space!

 

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Resource: Seating Chart

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In memory of Oprah’s Ultimate Favorite Things, we thought we’d keep the tradition alive in 2011, and put our own spin on a favorite things wish list!  I’ve taken a staff poll and have rounded up some of our most popular items from tables, chairs, and barstools.

Looking for some year-end spending opportunities?  We think you’ll love our favorite things:

1.
One of our staff loves this black with gold dot stacking chair so much she owns one!  Great for banquet centers, social club halls, meeting facilities, event venues, or other businesses looking for easy-to-stack and store chairs, this banquet stacking chair features a fabric upholstery in black with a gold dot and is designed with a solid gold frame of 16 gauge steel.  With an extra brace on the front, this chair is sturdy and durable.  It ships in 1-2 days of ordering and comes with a limited lifetime warranty on its frame.

On sale now, order your selection of these stacking chairs for just $21.99/each plus shipping.
Item # TCB-W60126-XY-017BLK

2.
This mahogany wooden ladder back bar stool tops the favorite things list of another one of our staff members.  Besides the owners, this staffer is our most veteran staff and has the greatest product knowledge of anyone.  The timeless style of this class wooden with ladder back bar stool includes a double support bar structure, a foot rest with kick plate, durable nylon floor glides, and a 7-year limited commercial warranty.

This bar stool will add some class to any bar or restaurant!  Order your shipment today at the low sale price of $59.99/each plus shipping.
Item # TCB-WB101-MAH

3.
Several of our staff voted for our new Steel City Collection.  While our East Coasters have added the tall-backed steel chairs and bar stools to their kitchens and can visualize them in their home’s man caves, our business customer base have also fallen in love with the Steel City.  To read more about our Steel City Collection, read our previous blog entry.

With a variety of chairs and bar stool options available, find the right item for you!

4.
Who doesn’t love a picnic?  When I see our line of outdoor commercial picnic tables, I think about all the fun times I had while growing up, of gathering around a table with my girlfriends at our local amusement park, sharing Potato Patch fries or Dippin’ Dots.  Give your outdoor park, school yard, ball field, or outdoor beer garden guests the same kind of warm, fuzzy feeling and memories of a lifetime by adding this park table to your casual outdoor dining space!  Not only is it heavy-duty and weather resistant, it is even graffiti proof! (Now you can’t beat that!)

We have coordinating outdoor trash receptacles, benches, and an entire line of outdoor commercial umbrellas for your entire outdoor area!

This model comes in several colors and is on sale for $629.99/each plus shipping today.
Item # TCB-LC-T46RO

5.
Looking for a cafe table top?  One of our East Coasters likes our resin table tops.  They come in cherry, natural, walnut, and her favorite, mahogany finishes.  Available in many different sizes, in both square or round, they feature a waterfall edge and are extra thick, proving durable in a commercial setting.

A 30″ round mahogany resin table top costs $44.99 plus shipping.
Item # TCB-W-RS30R-MAH

In an attempt to be humorous…or honest...when asked what his favorite product was, one of our owners said, “the one that sells!”  Who says you can’t give your customers a special gift for the new year?  Give your restaurant, bar, or other business a mini-makeover with one of our favorite things!  You’ll be happy, your customers will be happy, and our owner will be happy, too!

Whether it’s tables, chairs, barstools, or something different…we wish you a season surrounded by all your favorite things.