Soft Touch Furniture
A Guide to Buying Restaurant Furniture
Soft Touch Furniture proudly serves restaurants, bars, cafes, and similar establishments that view their unique look and feel as a core part of their branding.
Helping You Realize Your Unique Look
Soft Touch Furniture has been manufacturing custom restaurant furniture for over 50 years – more than five decades of experience helping restaurants thrive. We simplify the process by being easy to work with, crafting US-made, high-quality custom furniture, and offering professional delivery and installation.
Why Choose Soft Touch Furniture?
50+ Years of Manufacturing Experience: Founded in 1974, we have a proven track record of manufacturing excellence.
All Manner of Restaurant Furniture: We design and manufacture booths, banquettes, tables, chairs, barstools, waste receptacles, and more.
Custom Design: We work with our clients to give them the exact look they want. Colors, fabrics, sizes, shapes, wood types – any way you want it.
Made in the USA: Everything is proudly manufactured in our Girard, Ohio facility.
Technology meets Craftsmanship: Our modern facility utilizes CNC machinery for superior build quality, and our people are highly experienced in crafting world-class furniture.
Delivery and Installation: We offer delivery in our own trucks, and white glove installation by our skilled professionals.
A Great Value: With no middleman involved, we can offer a value price for high-quality custom restaurant furniture.
If you’re ready to experience the difference a true custom furniture manufacturer offers, contact us here or simply call 877-747-7638.
Buying Restaurant Furniture at a Glance:
Space Considerations
- Measure the dining area and determine what you have to work with.
Furniture Types
- Decide (or ask us) on booths, banquettes, and tables/chairs, both round and square.
Square Footage Requirements
- A four-person booth generally requires 21 sq ft.
- A four-person table generally requires 35 sq ft.
Booth Advantages
- Take up less space.
- Good for privacy in dining.
- Excellent for quick in-and-out meals.
Table Advantages
- Easier for servers to serve patrons.
- Can be more intimate for larger parties, especially round tables.
- Generally seen as more upscale.
- High-top tables are great for bar areas.
Note: Many restaurants will have a combination of booths and tables of varying sizes, allowing the advantages of each to be utilized.
Design Choices
- Tufting (button sewed into fabrics) adds a unique look.
- Headrest and kickplate options.
- Fabrics – Vinyl, Cloth, Leather. Ask us about each.
- Stain and fabric color options are almost limitless. Stain matching to existing colors is available.
Other Use Factors to Consider
Sunlight
Restaurant furniture with heavy sun exposure will fade faster than furniture that remains in the shade most of the time. If this is true in your establishment, consider moving furniture every few months to balance out sun exposure.
Moisture
Indoor fountains or water features can cause unexpected water damage. Consider minimizing splashing.
Cleaning
Most fabrics, whether leather, cloth, vinyl, or others, will have a code for what cleaning products to use. They are:
- W - Water-based soap/foam upholstery cleaner.
- S – Solvents that don’t produce suds (no water).
- W-S – Both water-based and solvents are ok.
- X – Vacuum/light brushing only.
- DC (or just D) - Dry clean only.
Outdoor / Covered Dining Area
Restaurant furniture used outdoors needs to be specifically designed to handle the rigors of the elements. Outdoor covered dining areas are still considered outdoors for these purposes.
Advantages of Custom Restaurant Furniture
Customer Perception
- Customers feel more comfortable with excellent, high-quality furniture.
- Customers notice the look of your establishment.
- Unique fabric and wood combinations delight patrons.
Higher Quality
- Custom furniture is built bespoke, ensuring quality.
- Soft Touch Furniture’s products, on average, last much longer than mass-produced competitors.
Superior Branding
- A look that matches your restaurant’s chosen atmosphere raises the overall ambiance.
- A unique look makes your establishment unique.
- For regional and national chains, a signature, uniform look across all locations adds to branding and helps reassure customers.
Owner/Management’s Personal Touch
- Restaurants that truly reflect an owner’s vision are better equipped to succeed.
Tips For Buying Custom Restaurant Furniture
Design is Important
- Utilize a professional designer, or ask your manufacturer for help (Soft Touch Furniture will provide design help if needed. This can be our own in-house expertise or a recommended outside professional for more involved design needs.)
Pre-Purchase Measuring and Planning
- Ensure all measurements are accurate.
- Insist on shop drawings so there are no surprises (Soft Touch will provide these).
- Do not be afraid to ask your manufacturer for help.
- “Measure Twice – Cut Once” is a good overall thought to follow.
Consider Clientele and Meal Style
- Longer “event” meals vs. shorter in-and-out meals may affect furniture choices. More emphasis is placed on tables for the former, and booths for the latter.
- Kid friendly? Then your furniture should stand up to the rigors of children.
- Ease of cleaning. Booths with crumb wipes and vinyl are excellent for higher-mess eateries.
Don’t Forget Other Areas and Options
- Bar areas with stools and high-top tables.
- Waiting areas with benches and banquettes.
- Waste receptacles that are functional and match your furniture.
Restaurant Types Soft Touch Furniture has Built Custom Furniture For:
- Stand-Alone Restaurants – Local five-star restaurants that are seen as high-end dining for discerning customers.
- Regional and National Chains – Panera Bread. Firebirds. Silver Diner. Viva Chicken. Many others.
- Cafes, Bars, Brewpubs – Eateries of any style, customer base, or size benefit from Soft Touch Furniture’s products.
- Hotels and Country Clubs – World-renowned establishments like New York’s Plaza Hotel have relied on Soft Touch Furniture to enhance their look.
- Other Applications – Airport lounges, corporate eateries, and lobbies.
Take the Next Step with Confidence
Whether you’re ready to talk about our custom restaurant furniture or have more questions, we’re here to help:
- Contact Us: View our Contact page and send us a message
- Download Helpful Guides: Check out our Resources page for design guides and catalogs
- Speak with a Specialist Now: Call us at 877-747-7638.
At Soft Touch Furniture, we believe in making world-class custom restaurant furniture accessible and straightforward. We handle the heavy lifting and ensure your ideas for your space shine through.
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