Celebrating 65 Years of Custom Cabinets with Kountry Kraft

By Dee Funk / July 15, 2024 Custom Cabinets, Home Office

Kountry Kraft is celebrating 65 years of custom cabinets! Here’s the story of how we came to be the oldest family-owned custom cabinetry manufacturer in the USA still managed by the original family.

The Gift of a Sears Craftsman Saw

Kountry Kraft’s journey to 65 years of custom cabinets begins with the Christmas of 1958. Helen Hurst, secretly setting aside money week by week, surprised her husband Elvin with a brand new Sears Craftsman Table Saw. Behold, a passion for woodworking was born.  

 

From a Hobby to a Business

With his trusty Sears Craftsman Saw, Elvin began making quality custom cabinets for friends and family. It wasn’t long until word got out and demand for his custom cabinets grew. In April 1959, the Hursts officially launched Kountry Kraft in their garage with the support of Elvin’s parents, Reuben and Mary. Balancing the demands of a new business and family of six, Elvin and Helen’s hard work and dedication soon paid off.

 

Growing Demand for Quality Custom Cabinets

As demand for quality custom cabinets grew, so did the company. Expanding to a 96,000 square foot facility and employing over 100 skilled craftsmen, Kountry Kraft’s reputation for quality and service flourished. Their strong commitment to excellence and innovative spirit were instrumental in this growth, establishing them as creators of the best cabinetry on the market.

 

Pictured from left to right: Elvin Hurst, Jr. (President), Elvin Hurst Sr., Helen Hurst, and Dee Hurst-Funk (CKD, CFO)

The Next Generation

Two of the Hurst children, Elvin Jr. and Dolores, took an interest in the family business and learned how to manage the company alongside their parents. They purchased the company in 2003, effectively passing the reins to the next generation of Hursts. They continue to steer Kountry Kraft with the same dedication and passion as their parents, ensuring the company’s values and craftsmanship remain unchanged. The original Sears Craftsman Saw that started it all still stands in the showroom lobby today, an everlasting reminder of what dedication to quality service and products can achieve.    

 

Innovating Kitchen Cabinet Production for the Best Cabinetry

Today, Kountry Kraft blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, utilizing computerized panel saws, dovetailing machines, and pneumatic assembly systems to maintain efficiency and precision for our kitchen cabinets. But, our true value lies in our hardworking team who is not only skilled in the art of custom cabinetry, but also maintaining a legacy of excellent service.

 

Celebrating 65 Years of Custom Cabinets

As we celebrate 65 years of custom cabinets, Kountry Kraft’s mission—to build dreams—continues to resonate through our dedication to customer service, communication, on-time delivery, and high-quality cabinetry at an exceptional value. If you’d like to be a part of our legacy, please contact one of our experts today. And to our valued Kountry Kraft community, thank you so much for all of the support you’ve given us over the years. We can’t wait to see what the next 65 have in store.