The Opening of China Towne

In 1970 John and Rita Yennock purchased the Iroquois China building and its leftover china. In the lower portion of the factory John created his own Syracuse production of furniture cabinets. In the upper portion he sold the remaining china from the Iroquois China Factory. Many of our customers may remember when China Towne Furniture & Mattress carried wallpaper, paint, carpeting, appliances, knick-knacks, clothing, and even cars! As the china was sold, there was soon room for other items to be sold from the store, and we started transitioning to quality furniture and mattresses.

Expanding Our Business

In the mid 1970s, China Towne Furniture & Mattress expanded to a building in downtown Syracuse and a small shop in North Syracuse. In 1975, John purchased a three story building on North State Street in Syracuse, called the Furniture Barn, and started selling furniture.

Expanding Our Business

In the 1980s, the original Solvay showroom expanded to accommodate the growing business. In 1984, John's son, Jay, took over the family company, and the growth continued. It was then that Jay decided to simplify the business and focus only on furniture and mattresses. Further expansion saw new locations in North Syracuse and Cicero, New York. This was the beginning of China Towne Furniture & Mattress as you see it today.

Delivery Service To Your Home

In September 2007, China Towne Furniture & Mattress launched its White Glove Delivery Service with personalized and exemplary customer service for all your furniture and mattress needs. Our team delivers every Tuesday to Saturday to find a day that will work for you. If you're unsure if you're within our delivery area, or if you would like additional information, feel free to Contact Us.

Consolidating To The One Big Store In Solvay, NY

In an effort to further enhance and improve service, the decision was made to consolidate all Design Consultants and resources to the Solvay, NY location on Milton Avenue, creating the “One Big Store in Solvay." With our showroom, designers, and our big warehouse all in one location we are able to ensure that every aspect of your experience with us is to your satisfaction —all in a friendly and focused atmosphere. China Towne Furniture & Mattress proudly serves the Syracuse & Greater Syracuse Area with brand name, quality furniture & mattresses, experienced designers, and exceptional service.

The First Commercial Solar Energy System in Solvay, NY

To honor his father’s tradition of working with the community, Jay partnered with The Village of Solvay Electric department to install 90 high efficiency polycrystalline solar modules on the roof of China Towne Furniture & Mattress. The project was installed by Warner Energy. Warner’s polycrystalline solar modules are the high efficiency, low-cost solution for commercial scale PV systems. Warner is located in Clay, New York and was a perfect fit for us as we work with local vendors whenever possible! This array allows the company to use an environmentally friendly power source to power our offices and showroom and help ease the community’s dependency on fossil fuels. Our President, Jay Yennock, says "Solar energy is clean, renewable and sustainable, helping to protect our environment. It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generations does. Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog."

The project was co-funded through rebates with the Independent Energy Efficiency Program. The IEEP is comprised of several municipally-owned electric departments in New York State committed to energy-efficient technology that will help Solvay Electric Department customers save money and cut their energy costs. Now, with the solar panels installed, our company will reduce our energy consumption. While saving money, we are doing our part for the environment. The new system can generate capacity of about 20.7 kilowatts (kW), which will amount to about 15 -20% of our electric requirements.

According to John Montone from Solvay Electric, "China Towne's initiative in the program has led the way for another three commercial applicants in our village. This is good for the environment and good for the village of Solvay. It’s a win-win for everybody both from a responsibility standpoint and an economic standpoint." Jay says, "Being green is something everyone’s talking about – but it's important to do something about it. We believe it’s a responsibility for every successful company here in Central New York. Launching a green initiative that makes a significant impact does require some investment – but it’s an investment we believe is necessary. We hope to inspire other businesses and consumers to follow our lead!"

Today in our showroom, you see a ghost of the past in the sandblaster from the days of Iroquois China, and glimpses of the future when you look up to see our solar panels reaching for the sky.

The Third Generation

Throughout its history, China Towne Furniture & Mattress has always been a family business, and the next generation continues today. Jay’s daughter, Morgan, joined the family business in the Operations Department following her graduation from LeMoyne College in 2013.