Walk into some big-box furniture store and you know the drill. Everything smells like cardboard and chemicals. You see "solid wood" labels that actually mean a thin veneer over particle board that'll crumble if you spill a glass of water. It's frustrating.
Kansas City used to have a secret weapon against that.
Unruh Furniture Kansas City wasn't just a shop; it was a vibe. Imagine a massive, 100-year-old stone church in Midtown—the Westminster Congregational Church. Instead of pews and hymns, it was filled with the scream of table saws and the sweet, heavy scent of walnut sawdust. That was the Unruh headquarters for years. It was cool. It was authentic. Honestly, it was the peak of the "maker movement" in KC.
But things changed fast.
If you're searching for them today, you’ve probably noticed the website is gone. The Instagram is quiet. There’s a lot of confusion about where they went.
The Craigslist Beginning
Sam Unruh didn't start with a business plan. He started with a YouTube video. Around 2012, he was a newlywed who needed a table. He didn't want to buy junk, so he figured out how to build one. Then he built another. He started selling them on Craigslist just to pay the mortgage.
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People loved it.
There is something about knowing the guy who built your kitchen table. You’re not just buying a slab of wood; you’re buying a story. Sam realized that early on. He grew the business from a garage to a "blue house" shop, and eventually to that iconic church on 36th and Walnut. At its height, the company had about 20 employees and was shipping custom pieces as far as Dallas.
They did things differently. Most places give you a 1-year limited warranty. Unruh offered a lifetime warranty. They’d literally come to your house and sand out a scratch for free. That kind of service is unheard of now.
Why the Church Collapsed (Literally)
The "church" location was beautiful but cursed. In 2021, the building suffered a massive structural failure. Part of the roof and a wall literally collapsed. It was a disaster.
The community rallied, though. Unruh moved operations temporarily to the Made in KC Marketplace on the Plaza. They tried to keep the dream alive, pivoting to a smaller showroom model.
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But by mid-2022 and into 2023, the trail went cold.
If you head to the Plaza now, you won't find the Unruh showroom. Local Reddit threads are full of former customers asking about their lifetime warranties. The reality is tough: it appears Unruh Furniture has officially closed its doors. No big press release. No dramatic goodbye. Just a locked door and a disconnected phone line.
The "Tables for Moms" Legacy
Even if the business is gone, you can't talk about Unruh without mentioning Tables for Moms. This was the heart of the company.
Sam was raised by a single mom. He knew how important a kitchen table was—it’s where homework happens, where tears are shed, where the family actually connects. Every single month, the team would build a custom dining table and give it away to a single mother in the KC area.
They didn't just drop it off at the curb. They’d set it up in the home. They’d listen to the stories. By the time they closed, they had given away over 60 tables.
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That’s 60 families who have a handcrafted heirloom they never could have afforded otherwise. That kind of impact doesn't just vanish because a business closes.
What to Do If You Need Custom Furniture Now
So, Unruh is gone. It sucks. But Kansas City still has a massive community of actual woodworkers who aren't selling mass-produced junk.
If you were looking for that "Unruh style"—thick hardwood, industrial legs, custom stains—you still have options.
- Flourish Furniture Bank: If you loved the "giving back" aspect of Unruh, check out Flourish in Grandview. They provide essential home furnishings to families overcoming housing insecurity. You can donate your old (quality) pieces here to keep that spirit of generosity alive.
- Amish Communities: If you want that "built to last 100 years" quality, take a drive out to Jamesport or the area around Tipton. It’s not as "trendy" as a Midtown church, but the joinery is unbeatable.
- Local Makers: Keep an eye on the Made in KC shops. They still rotate local artisans who do custom commissions.
Caring for Your Existing Unruh Pieces
If you're one of the lucky ones who actually owns an Unruh table, you're probably worried about that "lifetime warranty" disappearing. Don't panic.
These tables were built from solid hardwoods like walnut, white oak, and maple. They are tanks. You don't need a specific company to maintain them.
- Humidity is the enemy. KC summers are humid; winters are bone-dry. Use a humidifier in the winter to prevent the wood from shrinking and cracking.
- Skip the Pledge. Most commercial sprays contain silicone that builds up and ruins the finish. Use a damp microfiber cloth and maybe a tiny bit of mild soap.
- Local Refinishers. If your table gets a deep gouge, any high-end local furniture restorer in KC can fix it. You don't need Sam Unruh to do it. The wood is real, which means it can always be sanded and refinished.
It’s a bummer when a local staple disappears, especially one that felt so "Kansas City." But the era of the $3,000 custom walnut table in a renovated church was a specific moment in time.
If you're looking for your next heirloom, your best bet is to start hitting up local makers' markets or looking for individual craftsmen on Instagram who are still working out of their garages—just like Sam did back in 2012.
Your Next Steps
- Audit your furniture: If you have an Unruh piece, check the joints and the finish now while the weather is changing.
- Support the "Mom Fund" spirit: Since the official fund is gone, consider a direct donation to Flourish or Rose Brooks Center to help local moms get back on their feet.
- Explore the West Bottoms: On First Fridays, you'll often find independent woodworkers selling custom slabs that rival the old Unruh designs.