About Taken Barstools
Bolt down barstools for the toughest business in the world
Our Values
Charm
Authentic Design Custom Match to Your Decor
Connection
Accessible and open to possibilities.
Precision
Engineered and tested for reliability and durability.
Preservation
Capture authenticity with accurate research
Bolt down barstools for the toughest business in the world
About Taken Barstools
“About” stories are usually pretty boring. I’m tempted to cut and paste a synopsis of the Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton’s 1915 voyage in the Southern Hemisphere – now that’s a story.
The origins of Taken Barstools pales by comparison to Shackleton’s tale, but I’ll try.
A few years ago I got tired of working and quit my job as Production Manager at a marine equipment manufacturer. I was looking to buy a functioning business and found Sass barstools. I wanted something unique and I found it.
Since then I’ve learned a lot about barstools. Their origins are murky, but at one time there were dozens of different barstool designs. Barstools, refrigeration and ice cream played an important role in taming the American West in the early 1900s. Creating a space where proper ladies could find refreshment without exposure to the louts at the saloon surely played a part in the development of polite society.
Continuing that good work is our mission here at Taken Barstools. Preserving the authenticity of the barstools of the past and making them accessible to fine establishments is important to us.
My wife and I work the business every day from our barn near Bellingham, Washington. Dana does the books, I do the easy stuff like machining, welding, sanding and finishing.
Not as exciting as Shackleton, but good work.
Taken Barstools offers two styles of barstools – Seattle Classic and Ballard Roman. Right now we have two offerings, but we’ve collected some amazing examples of Victorian and Deco styled barstools. The technologies available now means we’ll be able to create castings of whatever our clients choose – I’ve just got to find the right client.
We build historically accurate, reliable cast metal base barstools
About Dana
Owner, Director
About Dana
Dana is the Stage Director for Taken Barstools.
Dana (pro Dah-na) directs everything within Taken Barstools that includes client orders, accounting, product ordering, assembly, upholstery, packaging, shipping, and marketing. With 17 years in management and accounting in the Hotel Restaurant field, she has a great amount of empathy when opening a new business.
“I was involved in quite a few remodels and take overs by new owners or management. When I deal with the designers of restaurants, I totally understand their time crunches, frustrations, and stress that opening a new business has.” Dana says.
And with another 23 years running a very successful sole proprietor home business, she’s no stranger to hard work. Dana’s next scene is joining her husband Luke in making hand crafted barstools.
Since the age of 9, Dana has a passion for making crafts. She learned to crochet from the sweet ladies at the nursing home on San Juan Island when she was a Candy Striper. She loves to crochet, knit, sew, upholstery, and make jewelry. Now she enjoys making custom hand crafted bar stools.
Origin Story: Sass Stools
For many years Louis “Stu” Stuve and his wife Sharon owned a sporting goods store in Springfield, Oregon. In 1988, they sold the business and moved to Florence, Oregon. They’d planned to live in Florence while building a house on nearby Mercer Lake.
In the rental house, they found four old chrome soda fountain stools. The landlord said they were from a pharmacy in Springfield and they could have them if they wanted them.
Stu stripped the pedestals down to bare metal and had them re-chromed. Guests commented on how nicely they’d turned out. Stu and Sharon decided retirement was over rated and created Sass Stools. “Sass” is a combination of their names, Stu and Sharon.
Since 1991 Sass Stools branched into other styles of bolt down stools, eventually settling on the Classic, Roman, and Diner styles. Sass Stools have proven especially popular in fast casual dining restaurants.
In 2016 Stu and Sharon decided to retire – for good this time. Sass Stools was sold to Taken Barstools of Seattle Washington.
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Contact Us
Address
PO Box 1051, Lynden, WA 98264
+1 971 251 0439
Hours (PST)
Monday—Friday:
6:00AM–4:30PM