Business Details
20 Years
experience
Durable Institutional Furniture Solutions
Jess Crate Furniture was founded in 2006 through the strategic acquisition of Jordan Lumber, a North Carolina-based furniture supplier. Our roots trace back to 1982 when Barbara and Steve Silver combined their expertise in the linen industry to create a business that evolved into a one-stop shop for durable, handcrafted furniture. We specialize in manufacturing institutional-grade products designed to withstand heavy use in environments like camps, dormitories, firehouses, and correctional facilities. Our furniture is constructed from Southern Yellow Pine with moisture content below 10%, featuring edge-glued panels, multi-step water-based finishes, and high-density foam cushions. We offer customization options for fabrics, stains, and assembly methods while maintaining factory-direct pricing.Our commitment to sustainability includes replanting trees and using environmentally friendly finishes. With over 20 employees at our 45,000 sq ft North Carolina facility, we maintain rigorous quality control through multiple inspection stages. Our products come with replacement parts and refinishability features to extend their lifespan across generations. We serve diverse industries with specialized lines including behavioral health furniture, steel collections, and laminate products. Our team provides personalized support from initial consultation through delivery and installation.
Services
Bed frames
Mattresses
Storage solutions
Dining tables
Behavioral health furniture
Laminate furniture
Steel furniture
Custom upholstery
Replacement cushions
Refinishing services
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in institutional furniture manufacturing
- Our products undergo six-step water-based finishing processes for durability
- We provide factory-direct pricing with nationwide delivery capabilities
- Our furniture is designed for easy refinishing and replacement part integration
- We maintain 45,000 sq ft North Carolina production facility with quality control inspections
Associations and certifications
- ISO
What people say
Quality surpasses industry standards
Exceptional customer service
Lasts for years
Quick issue resolution
Made in USA
Services
Durable Institutional Furniture
Our institutional furniture line combines Southern Yellow Pine construction with multi-step water-based finishes for extreme durability. Each piece undergoes rigorous strength testing and features edge-glued panels with less than 10% moisture content. Designed for heavy-use environments like camps and dormitories, these products maintain residential aesthetics while withstanding daily abuse from students, campers, and institutional residents.
Custom Upholstery
We offer fully upholstered furniture in two lines: Contract Upholstery ships fully assembled while Simple Assembly line requires no tools for installation. Available in various fabrics including vinyls and performance materials, our upholstery features zippered covers and high-density foam cushions for easy maintenance and long-term comfort in institutional settings.
Behavioral Health Furniture
Our specialized behavioral health line includes rotationally molded plastic furniture with extreme load capacity and fire-resistant properties. Products feature molded-in handles, ballast options, and ganging capabilities while meeting CAL TB133 standards. Designed for secure environments, these pieces eliminate ligature risks while maintaining durability and ease of cleaning.
Steel Furniture Collection
The Campus Steel line offers fully-welded steel furniture combining durability with modern aesthetics. Available in beds, lockers, tables, and seating, these products feature powder-coated finishes and reinforced construction for high-traffic institutional use. The collection balances heavy-duty construction with contemporary design elements for educational and commercial spaces.
Mattress Solutions
We provide commercial-grade mattresses in multiple sizes with fire-resistant covers and various comfort options. Our offerings include fiber, foam, and innerspring constructions with anti-microbial, stain-resistant materials. Mattress options feature reinforced edges and durable covers designed to withstand institutional use while meeting healthcare industry standards for hygiene and safety.
People
Barbara Silver
Co-Founder
Co-founder with textile industry expertise who transitioned from Vice President role at Cannon Mills to establish Jess Crate Furniture. Instrumental in developing quality standards and sustainable practices at the North Carolina factory.
Steve Silver
Co-Founder
Co-founder with linen purchasing background who leveraged industry relationships to expand from retail into furniture manufacturing. Played key role in acquiring Jordan Lumber to establish Jess Crate Furniture in 2006.
Questions
What makes Jess Crate furniture suitable for institutional use?
Our furniture uses Southern Yellow Pine with <10% moisture content, six-step water-based finishes, and reinforced construction to withstand heavy commercial use.
Can I customize Jess Crate furniture for existing spaces?
Yes, we offer customization options for dimensions, stains, fabrics, and assembly methods to match existing environments and architectural requirements.
Do you provide replacement parts for Jess Crate furniture?
We offer replacement cushions, hardware, and components to extend product lifespan and maintain functionality across generations of use.
How does Jess Crate ensure product durability?
Each product undergoes multiple quality inspections, strength testing, and uses materials specifically engineered for institutional environments with daily heavy use.
What industries does Jess Crate serve?
We serve camps, college dormitories, firehouses, correctional facilities, senior living centers, and other institutional environments requiring durable furniture solutions.
Is Jess Crate furniture environmentally friendly?
Our products use sustainably harvested wood, water-based finishes, and we maintain replanting programs to ensure environmental responsibility in our manufacturing processes.
Reviews (5)
Andrew Schuster
Jul 28, 2021
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Tacky business that uses images from other web sites and passes them off as their product.
Specifically:
From cratedesignsfurniture.com Jess Crate has used our model #7015 as their category picture for chests & dressers. Our model #7013 to represent their model JC-203
Our model #7024 to represent their model JC-204
Our model #7015 to represent their model JC-205
Our model #7026 to represent their model JC-206
Our model #7100 to represent their model JC-219
Our model #4009 to represent their model JC-173
I'm not sure if they have used any more. My rating for JessCrate would be 5 stars
Specifically:
From cratedesignsfurniture.com Jess Crate has used our model #7015 as their category picture for chests & dressers. Our model #7013 to represent their model JC-203
Our model #7024 to represent their model JC-204
Our model #7015 to represent their model JC-205
Our model #7026 to represent their model JC-206
Our model #7100 to represent their model JC-219
Our model #4009 to represent their model JC-173
I'm not sure if they have used any more. My rating for JessCrate would be 5 stars
Enzo V.
Oct 06, 2020
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If a negative star was possible that's what they would get. The owner Marc is a buffoon. Do not use this company. Pay a little extra and hire someone else.
Chris V.
Feb 27, 2019
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After moving to the neighborhood that Jess Crate Furniture is located at, we have experienced a build up of excessive trash and wooden crates piled outside of their establishment which spills over into piles of waste. The workers do not bother placing their garbage in the dumpsters. When I called to discuss the issue, the associate said "this is not a nice neighborhood and there is trash everywhere. We are just trying to run a business and you must not understand that". I tried several times to respectfully discuss this with the owners but after failed attempts, I want to make it known
Marc Merves
Dec 05, 2017
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Amazing experience,
They were the most attentive, reasonable furniture dealer I work with
Very accommodating. I would recommend them to any facility
They were the most attentive, reasonable furniture dealer I work with
Very accommodating. I would recommend them to any facility
Julia New
Sep 23, 2016
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Although we were told that out of thousands of customers, Jess Crate had never heard of the seams of their products fraying, that is what our experience was, a few short months after purchase. We were told replacements would be sent, they were not, nor have my emails been answered. I wish we had gone with another company.
