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Kittinger Distinctive Furniture

American, b. op. 1896
The Kittinger company was established in 1866 – one year after peace between the North and South was restored. It was a time when America held a wealth of natural resources, a burgeoning free–trade market, and a massive western frontier waiting to be developed. Industrial entrepreneurs were filled with high hopes and magnificent expectations. George and Oliver Colie were such entrepreneurs. The Colies’ opened a paper factory in the bustling Great Lakes port of Buffalo, New York. Soon thereafter, they also began to manufacture upholstered furniture and that business boomed. In 1885, they opened a furniture plant that produced beautiful hand–crafted furniture in classic 18th century styles. When George Colie’s son-in-law, Irvine J. Kittinger, took the helm The Kittinger Furniture Company was born. To Irvine Kittinger, quality was paramount. “Our business is not primarily to turn furniture into money, but to produce something really worthwhile.” he wrote.

Kittinger Company ownership:
1966 General Interiors Corporation
1986 Chicago-Pacific Corporation
1988 Maytag Corporation
1989 Ladd Furniture Corporation
1990 Michael Carlow private investor

Although the respect for the furniture industry varied by owners, the quality of Kittinger Furniture remained excellent and was always the pride of it’s skilled workers Unfortunately, in 1995, due to mismanagement and under a federal indictment, the Elmwood Avenue doors to Kittinger were closed forever. A pending auction loomed and this chaotic Era in Kittinger history came to an end.
In 1996, Ray and Karen Bialkowski purchased The Kittinger Furniture Company and the intellectual property. They re-established the company in the Tri Main building in downtown Buffalo, New York. Many of the original craftsmen were brought back as the company began production again.