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metal restaurant furniture

How to Buy Metal Restaurant Furniture?

Restaurant furniture is manufactured from many different types of materials and in numerous styles.  The variety of options makes it easy for new or existing restaurant owners to find something that fits their personal style theme and décor.  Two of the most popular choices for material in the manufacture of restaurant furniture are metal and wood.  This article covers some basic information regarding buying metal restaurant furniture, including chairs, tables, barstools and bases.

1. Why Buy Metal?

One of the greatest advantages in purchasing metal restaurant furniture is the wide variety of options available in metal.  Metal restaurant chairs are available in a vast array of different colored vinyl seats, an almost infinite amount of choices in back options, and many different stain colors of wood seats.  Metal restaurant barstools, like their metal restaurant chair counterparts, offer many choices of back, seat and color options.  There are also quite a few backless barstool options.

metal table and chair set

2. Metal is Budget friendly

Metal restaurant furniture is available in many budget friendly options.  There are many great budget friendly choices in all furniture categories, including tables, bases, bar stools and chairs.

For indoor use, the metal barstool, model A188S, starts at $66 and the matching metal chair starts at $41. For outdoor use, the Bahamas metal chair starts at $47, and the Bahamas barstool starts at $73.  Of course, these are only a few examples, and metal restaurant chairs and barstools are available in almost every price point.

Metal outdoor bases like the Snowdrop 3 start at $57, and metal indoor bases such as the T0522 are very reasonably priced starting at $22.

3. Metal is Durable

Even though metal restaurant furniture is very economical, it is also extremely durable. The metals used in the manufacture of indoor and outdoor metal restaurant furniture are high quality, and since they are made for commercial use, are very durable. Metal restaurant furniture is manufactured from many different types of metals. Just a few materials metal restaurant furniture are manufactured from include stainless steel, chrome, anodized aluminum or cast aluminum.

When welded joints are used on metal restaurant chairs or barstools, this can increase their durability.  Welded joints where parts come together hold together much better than joints that are bolted together. Metal chairs with a bolt and nut to secure the joints, even when using a lock washer, are harder to maintain, and are normally found in metal chairs for home use.  A final note on durability of metal chairs is that often times, the finish on metal chairs will last much longer than on wood chairs.

4. Metal is Great for Indoor or Outdoor Use

A lot of metal restaurant tables, chairs and barstools are manufactured for indoor and outdoor use.  Stainless steel restaurant tables are perfect for use either in indoor or outdoor spaces.  A new trend in some restaurants is sliding restaurant garage style or sliding glass doors that open, or creating indoor/outdoor spaces that may be partially covered.

Metal restaurant furniture is ideal for these applications since it can stand up to outdoor elements and still maintain its durability.  Many of the metal outdoor furniture options at Missouri Table and Chair are available with matching tables, bases, chairs, and barstools making it easy to design a perfect patio.

metal outdoor chairs

5. Metal Can Be Lightweight

A lot of metal restaurant furniture, especially metal furniture which is designed for outdoor use is lightweight.  Even though it is lightweight it is still extremely durable.

Why would a restaurant want lightweight furniture? Lightweight restaurant tables, bases, chairs and barstools are easier to move.  This makes metal furniture ideal for outdoor applications where the tables may be moved more often for storage, etc. or for any restaurant application where customers may want to move tables together to form bigger or smaller seating groups.

This is more efficient for restaurants because groups of smaller tables can easily and quickly be put together to form a large table, instead of purchasing large tables.

Whatever your needs are in metal restaurant barstools, chairs, bases, or tables, the experienced customer service representatives at Missouri Table and Chair will have the knowledge to assist you.  Missouri Table and Chair has been selling commercial restaurant furniture since 1978, and the staff is very friendly and always happy to answer any questions and offer personalized advice on any customers’ commercial furniture needs.

restaurant furniture

How to Match Right Commercial Furniture with Your Restaurant Style?

When purchasing new restaurant tables and chairs wholesale, we usually go by our personal tastes or try to match our interior décor. However, did you know that the type or style of your restaurant plays a crucial part in selecting your restaurant furniture as well? Different types of restaurants have their own characteristics and target clients. From cafeterias to bistros, from fine dining to brewpubs, read on to how to select the perfect furniture for different restaurant types:

Tips to match your furniture with the style of restaurant

1. Bistros

bistro

Bistros are small restaurants serving simple meals at moderate prices in a modest setting. Bistros are famous for their unpretentious ambiance and the wholesome food they serve. For example, you might see a blackboard for a bistro’s daily menu instead of a printed menu. The restaurant tables and chairs in bistros are typically small and arranged in an intimate setup. Small, round granite table tops with designer bases are perfect for a bistro. Similarly, you can choose metal frame chairs with padded seats having a simple back design.

2. Brasseries

Brasseries

A brasserie is another style of a small restaurant. Brasseries, meaning brewery in French, are famous for their upscale, relaxed atmosphere and décor. Many of the brasseries in the United States feature French food. Unlike bistros, brasseries feature professional details such as linen table coverings and printed menus. Custom butcher block tables or granite table tops give a premium look required for a brasserie-style restaurant. Complement these tables with high-quality wooden bar stools or chairs. You can select either a wooden seat or go with upholstered seats that offer ultimate comfort to your guests.

3. Brewpubs

Brewpubs are restaurants that serve food while brewing beer on their premises as well. Brewpubs are famous for serving original, high-quality menu items and custom brewed beer. Most brewpubs have a dedicated bar area, and some may even have a separate observation area of their on-premise beer brewing equipment. As a brewpub owner, you would want to accentuate the bar area with high-quality, durable restaurant furniture. Custom butcher-block or solid oak tables offer the look and feel of a traditional American brewpub. Match these with quality restaurant wood chairs and barstools to highlight the bar area.

4. Buffets

buffets

Buffets are popular restaurant types where guests serve themselves from food counters placed in a public area. For restaurant owners, a buffet is profitable as it requires less staffing than any other restaurant type. For customers, a buffet is desirable as it gives them a wide variety of food options. The décor for a buffet restaurant can vary widely. Budget-friendly, simple buffet restaurants offer an all-you-can-eat menu for an attractive price and do not require expensive décor. On the contrary, lavish buffets in upscale hotels or casinos are pricey and have opulent décor. Whether yours is a budget buffet or a high-end buffet, choose restaurant tables and chairs that are durable and easy to clean. Commercial booths, which come in various styles, are a popular choice for buffet restaurants. Since buffet-style restaurants generally require more dining area per table than other restaurant styles, pay special attention to table sizes.

5. Coffee Houses

Coffee Houses

Coffee houses usually serve custom coffees and other beverages along with small food items like pastries, snacks, etc. Coffee houses are famous for their relaxed ambiance where youngsters, executives, artists, etc., can work or discuss while enjoying a snack. A typical coffee house features intimate tables, in either dining or bar height, with internet (Wi-Fi) access. A round or square table having a granite or resin table top on a standard base would be a good coffee shop choice. Matching wooden or metal chairs or bar stools are also great options. As patrons spend considerable time in coffee shops while working on their computers, ensure that your chairs are comfortable and durable.

6. Food Courts

Food courts, usually located in high-traffic areas like shopping malls or airports, are common dining areas that provide restaurant tables and chairs for multiple vendors. Since there are several outlets in a food court, you don’t have to match any style, and design possibilities are limitless. Clean lines and bright colors are always excellent options for food courts to entice shoppers. When choosing food courts’ furniture, pay special attention to their weight, maintenance, and durability. Since chairs and tables in this high traffic area will have a high customer turnover, they must be easy to clean and maintain. Brightly colored laminate or resin tables with matching molded plastic or metal chairs are sensible choices for food courts.

7. Fine Dining

fine dining

Fine dining is the most expensive and upscale restaurant that offers high-quality food and service, elegant ambiance, and plush furniture. In a fine dining restaurant, your customers expect the finest cutlery, a decorative table setup, and an unbeatable dining experience. Many fine-dining restaurants have a bar that doubles up as a waiting area. Choose sturdy wooden tables and vintage chairs with luxurious cushions or upholstered barstools to grace the dining area. When planning a fine dining restaurant, think of ways to elevate the experience and comfort of your guests. For example, a coat checking counter is a great way to show your commitment to unparalleled hospitality.

8. Cafeteria

Cafeteria

Ever attended high school in the United States? If yes, then you know about the cafeteria-style of dining. Usually, a cafeteria is a self-service restaurant that serves ready-cooked food items. Guests line up, take a tray, and pick what they want to eat from the food options arranged behind a long counter. Apart from self-serve, ready-made portions of salads, soups, etc., some cafeterias offer fresh-cooked menu items like waffles, omelets, etc. While choosing furniture for your cafeteria, go for designs that combine aesthetics and practicality. Compact, round tables have a relaxed vibe that encourages conversations. Similarly, for cafeteria chairs, go for armless models with a hard seat.

9. Contemporary casual

Contemporary casual

Contemporary casual is a new type of sit-down restaurant that emphasizes the atmosphere and dining experience. A contemporary casual restaurant balances the dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere with innovative ideas like farm-to-table, craft beverages, fusion cuisine, etc., that highlight sustainability. Furniture for a contemporary casual restaurant reflects a relaxed, softer style with traits like overstuffed sofas, leather upholstery, rounded edges, medium wood tones, etc.

10. Pop-up restaurant

pop up restaurant

A pop-up restaurant is an emerging trend that allows its owners to experiment with novel ideas of food styles. Chefs or owners of pop-up restaurants try to test which cuisines or concepts would work in a particular area. Pop-up restaurants try to create a unique experience with attractive ideas like food trucks, beer gardens, camping restaurants, etc., that remain operational only for a few months in a year. While deciding the furniture of a pop-up restaurant, consider how long you will operate and what is dining area you require. Since it is a temporary setup, you can choose to rent tables, chairs, and other décor elements.

Summing it up:

Restaurant furniture is more than just a décor element, and your dining area is more than just the placement of tables and chairs. In addition to the food you serve or the service you provide, matching the restaurant furniture with its style can significantly improve the dining experience for your customers.

This article discusses some of the most popular restaurant styles and what kind of furniture goes with them. Hopefully, by taking notes from this short guide, you will be able to design a comfortable, unique, and appealing restaurant for your guests to stand out from your competitors.

Why Choose Metal Chairs for Your Restaurant?

What Is A Metal Chair, and Why Use One?

Metal chairs have been around for decades now for residential use, and now they have become mainstream for commercial use as well.  Thanks to their high tensile strength and availability in various designs, metal chairs are comfortable yet stylish, durable yet functional, and long-lasting yet affordable. No wonder metal chairs have found their way into many restaurants. The rustic, sleek, and industrial look of metal chairs make them ideal for any theme and décor in a restaurant. Mostly, steel, cast iron, or aluminum are the popular metals for constructing commercial furniture, and the choice depends on the type of theme you wish to create in your restaurant.

Why Are Metal Chairs So Popular?

Many things go into making metal restaurant chairs so popular. Here, we list some of them:

1. You can plan stylish, functional outdoor seating:

Metal chairs are resilient and seldom show any deterioration when exposed outdoors for long periods. If yours is a restaurant with a patio or outdoor seating, durable outdoor metal chairs with anti-rust coating give you hassle-free operation for many years. In a nutshell, trendy metal chairs in bright tones offer stylish yet functional outdoor seating to woo your guests.

outdoor metal chairs

2. Sleek style to match contemporary design

Whether it is a modern bistro or a minimalistic café, commercial metal chairs are a perfect fit. With their sleek design, metal chairs are lightweight and can make your restaurant seem more airy and spacious. With metal chairs, you get limitless options in color and design that compliment any décor or theme in your restaurant. The trendy yet timeless appeal of metal chairs has been popular in all restaurant types for ages now.

3. When you want stackable chairs for changing needs

Let’s face it; the seating requirements and capacity of a restaurant are quite dynamic. Whether it is a banquet or a conference, you often need to expand your seating capacity and layout temporarily.  Whether storing your patio chairs between the seasons, hosting an event, or cleaning your dining space, stackable metal chairs are convenient yet durable and long-lasting.

4. When you want to utilize maximum space efficiently:

Despite using high-density metal, these chairs are space-efficient yet lightweight, and shifting and stacking them is effortless. Unlike bulky wooden chairs, metal chairs occupy less space; as a result, your restaurant’s dining area appears bigger, and your guests do not feel crowded. Moreover, you can complement restaurant metal chairs with bar stools to create a visually appealing layout and maximize your seating capacity.

What Are The Advantages Of Metal Chairs?

1. Resilient Metal Material offers Durability:

Every restaurant chair has joints where different chair parts like the seat, back, and legs come together. While wooden chairs usually hold the joints together by glue and screws, restaurant metal chairs have welded joints. The welded joints in metal chairs can make them more sturdy, long-lasting, and durable than some wooden chair models.

2. Stackable and Lightweight

Since metal frames have high tensile strength, it is possible to manufacture sleek yet durable metal chairs. Metal chairs with narrow tubes and thinner frames are lightweight and yet resilient for any busy restaurant. The high-density metal chairs are space-efficient and allow you to utilize your restaurant’s dining space effectively. Also, most metal chairs are stackable so that you can increase your restaurant’s capacity and store them away when not in use.

3. Comfortable

Most restaurant owners have a misconception that metals chairs are uncomfortable, but that is simply not the case anymore. With the advancement of manufacturing processes, deliberate curves in the chair design can make even the purely metallic chairs quite cozy. Moreover, you can consider upholstered seats or cushions to offer comfortable seating for your guests, and they amplify the décor too. With carefully chosen designs and materials, metal chairs provide comfortable seating for a longer duration in a restaurant.

4. Budget-friendly

There are many budget friendly options in metal frame chairs. If you buy commercial-grade, high-quality metal frame chairs with a commercial warranty, you don’t have to worry about maintenance or repair charges for a long time. The last thing a new restaurant needs is to have to replace their chairs in the short term.

5. Easy to Clean & Maintain

Metal chairs are super easy to clean. While routine dusting does the trick most of the time, you can use a damp cloth with a mild soap solution for stains. Inherently, metal chairs are strong and less prone to chipping or scratching. In case of any minor damage to the painted surface, you can use sandpaper and retouch paint to fix it.

6. Variety of Style & Design Options

chair design option

Over time, manufacturing processes have advanced, and restaurant metal chairs are available in various styles, patterns, designs, styles, and colors. Moreover, the warmer colors of some chairs can mimic the appearance of wooden or laminated chairs to make them pretty much indistinguishable.  Metal chairs can be painted in a vibrant colors giving your dining space a real pop!  Purchasing a bunch of metal chairs all the same color can create a uniform, standardized visual palate in your restaurant. From industrial theme to warm tone to contrasting style statement, metal chairs work either way effortlessly.

7. Compatible for both indoor outdoor use

Metal chairs are versatile and compatible for both indoor and outdoor use. Outdoor metal chairs offer sufficient protection against heat and UV rays from the sun. Unlike wooden or plastic chairs, metal chairs are less prone to fade or crack against temperature variations. Since metal chairs can withstand extreme weather conditions better than other materials, they are a great choice for your restaurant’s patio or balcony.

What Are The Types Of Metal Restaurant Chairs?

Metal restaurant chairs are available in endless design and pattern options to compliment and accentuate any interior. Some of the popular types of metal restaurant chairs include:

  • Metal restaurant chairs with arms

Any restaurant sees customers from every age group. Metal restaurant chairs with arms provide comfortable seating to the elderly, children, and other guests requiring special assistance. For large dining rooms, metal chairs with arms give a sense of fullness. Also, since your guests get arms to lean on, getting in and out of these chairs is easier. However, they take up more space and cost extra than metal chairs without arms.

  • Metal restaurant chairs with wood seatmetal chair with wooden seat

Metal chairs with wooden seats combine the utility, durability, and sleekness of metals with the vintage appearance of wood. Wood and metal create an unbeatable classy and elegant look to make a bold style statement in your restaurant’s dining room. It is, therefore, no surprise that metal chairs with wooden seats remain a popular choice in restaurants. Many restaurants go for cozy ladder back metal chairs having solid wood seats in a sandblast frame with plastic glides for richness.

  • Upholstered metal restaurant chairs

Nothing says that you care for your guest’s comfort, like upholstered seats. Upholstered metal restaurant chairs are the epitome of luxury and provide ultimate comfort and support for your guests. These chairs usually have a contoured seat and a sleek design to accentuate your restaurant’s décor. With upholstered chairs, you can experiment with matching or contrasting cushions to create a stunning look.

  • Stackable metal restaurant chairs

Stackable metal restaurant chairs offer umpteen advantages. They are easy to use, clean, maintain, & store, occupy less space, offer flexibility, are affordable, and many more. Stackable metal chairs usually use tubular metal frames made from 16-gauge stainless steel to offer lightweight, strength, and durability, perfect for rough use in a restaurant. Although most stackable metal chairs use only metal for frames, some are made entirely from metals, including seats and back.

Summing it up:

With plenty of styles and customization options, metal restaurant chairs can adapt to any theme. Moreover, their strength, durability, affordability, and elegance offer a practical, comfortable, and reliable seating option. Whether yours is a family restaurant or a coffee shop, fast-food joint or fine dining, choosing metal restaurant chairs calls for an inviting dining experience with the perfect mix of style and comfort for your guests.

Why are Restaurant Booths The Best Seating Option?

When shopping for a commercial booth for a hospitality setting, keep in mind that not all booths are created equal. Construction of the booth and the booth’s features are important considerations when choosing the right booth for your budget and application. The quality of the construction of the booth will impact its durability and comfort. A booth’s included features and options will impact its maintenance, comfort and longevity.

Quality Construction

Missouri Table & Chair’s booths are manufactured with superior construction features that contribute to the booth’s extreme durability. The booths superior construction is backed with a 5 year warranty. A warranty from a trusted source is a very important consideration when deciding from which company to purchase your commercial furniture.

Upholstered booths

This article highlights just a few of the superior construction features our booths possess, and what they contribute to the durability of a quality wholesale booth. These booths feature 4/4 and 5/4 hardwood frames. Hardwood frames make the booth stronger, and also make it last longer. The seat springs are 1 gauge thicker than most commercial furniture manufacturers. This construction feature extends the seat life of the restaurant booth.

The booth springs are machine clamped to paper-wrapped, tempered wire, to eliminate any chance of the springs moving laterally. The springs are mounted to the seat frame by G style anchor clips. The clips wrap around the frame to prevent the springs pulling away from the booth. This booth construction technique consists of Teflon spring clips to eliminate squeaking noises from the use of the booth. The booths are constructed with decking material to keep the springs of the booth hidden.

The use of high slip polyethylene to protect the foam and vinyl parts of the booths we sell is standard. These booths feature a single piece end frame that prevents back rocking. A sophisticated mechanical compression technique is used to pull the upholstery tight for a consistent and smooth appearance. This unique construction and the high attention to detail during construction of the booths provide superior comfort, durability and appearance.

wood restaurant booths

Commercial Booth Application Sizing

Ordering the correct size for hospitality, break room or restaurant booth application is very important. The “normal” size industry standard for a full booth set up is 72 inches. The size needed for your commercial booth application may be more or less than 72 inches. Factors to consider are the type of restaurant and the layout. Some types of restaurants, such as pizza, Asian or Mexican style restaurants, usually require more than the 30 inch wide table top factored into the normal 72 inch booth setup. Conversely, booths for applications such as coffee shops, break rooms and/or fast food establishments, typically need a smaller than 30 inch wide table top and a smaller than 72 inch booth setup. Our booths come in custom heights and lengths, and can be sized to your exact specifications for your hospitality setting.

Important Restaurant Booth Features

There are a vast number of features that are included, or available as options, with custom restaurant booths, depending on necessity, budget, and the chosen style of booth. Many booth styles feature a head roll of some type. This is a headrest type feature that contributes to a customer’s comfort, as well as to the aesthetic design and look of the booth.

Many commercial booth styles feature a ‘crumb-strip’ on the booth. This is a separated area between the booth’s seat and back. Restaurant personnel can use a cleaning cloth to wipe this area free of debris. This crumb-strip feature is included to help in keeping the booth clean and increases the booth’s longevity. These crumbs trips can be manufactured from laminate, upholstery, or other materials.

restaurant booths

Our booths feature high density, foam-padded, and removable sinuous spring seats. Removal of the booth seats assists with keeping the booths clean and contributes to their durability. Commercial booths can also feature many design options for the top cap and ends. Many of these top cap and ends are removable for maintenance, repair and easy cleaning. Top caps and ends can be ordered in many different options, such as wood, laminate, and/or various stains or colors. The ends of the booths can be finished on one or both ends, depending on layout and design needs.

These are just a few of the many design and manufacturing options to consider when ordering wholesale booths. A restaurant booth purchase is one where it certainly benefits the buyer to consult a knowledgeable representative from an experienced commercial furniture manufacturer and distributor.

wood restaurant chairs

Hints on Saving your Commercial Wood Chairs!

Even the highest quality commercial wood chairs will need maintenance from time to time, so here are a few hints to save on your investment and to keep your customers safe.

restaurant-furniture-materials

First, remember that regular maintenance on your chairs is very important to stop problems before they start. Thinking that any wood chair will last for the life of a restaurant without any maintenance is a mistake. Next, stay observant each day for anything unusual about the chairs or bar stools. Anything from stain or finish coming off; missing glides, broken rungs, cracked seats; or loose legs should be a sign to get that damaged chair out of service for repair.

Hints on Saving Commercial Wood Chairs

Here are some tips for getting that chair back into service fast:

1. Stain Missing

See any local paint store to get a touch up pen which matches the chair. This process is easy and takes no professional skill to accomplish. If the stain has been chipped, take a piece of 100-grit sand paper and smooth out the rough spots before using the stain pen. Many stain pens contain both stain and finish in the pen, so you can complete the process in one step. In areas the customer does not normally touch, shoe polish or wide tipped markers also make good fixes.

2. Missing Glides

Missing glides not only make the chair difficult to  slide, but can also put excess strain on the joints of the chair, causing them to loosen sooner than normal. Keep a dozen or so glides on hand, which can be obtained from the original chair vendor or a local hardware store. Most glides are simply nails with their heads in plastic, and are easy to remove and replace.

3. Broken Legs, Stretchers, Seat or Back Rungs

This type of repair takes glue and a correctly sized clamp. Usually, when a break or crack happens, all the wood is still there; so all that is needed to correct the problem is to put wood glue into the crack, or on both ends of the split, and clamp it down until it dries. Common wood glues found at hardware stores can make the break or split even stronger than the surrounding wood.

4. Loose Legs

If the dowels that go into the legs or the seat are loose, try drilling a 1 1/8” drywall screw through the loose joint. Just turn your restaurant chair or bar stool upside down, and put the screw in at a 45 degree angle to the joint and you’ll be surprised at how tight it becomes.

For more information on how to save your wood chairs, contact an experienced online restaurant furniture dealer.