by Sam Raksin and Yossi Majer purchased the company from Joe Johnston earlier this year
NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — When Sam Raksin and Yossi Majer purchased Johnston Casuals this past February, it was an opportunity to carry forward a business with a 40-year history of producing quality metal dining and occasional furniture.
It also represented a challenge in how to carry the business forward in a meaningful way for existing and new customers alike.
The purchase allowed longtime owner and President Joe Johnston an opportunity to step aside and retire from the metal factory he started in 1980 that ultimately became known as Johnston Casuals. While he is there to assist in an advisory capacity, he is no longer involved in running the day-to-day operations.
That task is in the hands of Raksin and Majer, two entrepreneurs who come to the table with both various levels of business experience. Raksin most recently was a sales executive with High Line Event Rentals, and Majer is president of graphic design specialist The PrintHouse, also in Brooklyn.
When they first were introduced to the manufacturers by a business broker around February 2025, they were intrigued, but initially walked away from the opportunity. For one, it was about 600 miles from their home base in Brooklyn. Secondly, it appeared to have its share of challenges, including the need for an update in styles and finishes.
But the more they considered the opportunity, the more they liked what they saw.
“There was a point where we weren’t going to go ahead with it,” Raksin told Home News Now. “But we came back to it. It is American-made, it has a great reputation and great quality, and it has amazing staff. Everything was there.”
It also gave the company a direction for the future as Johnston was looking to retire from the business, leaving uncertainty — including the possibility of closure — for the 100,000-square-foot operation and its 35 employees.
The deal that would continue the business beyond its initial 40 years was completed on Feb. 23, just about a year after the business partners first laid eyes on the operation. That left them roughly two months to get ready for the April High Point Market, with two major religious holidays — Passover and Easter — in the mix to potentially slow things down.
That said, they worked with design talent to bring a fresh approach to the company and showroom in time for the April market. In addition to some 35 new product designs, they offered 16 new metal finishes, bringing the total to more than 30. They also added about 50 new fabrics to the mix for its line of dining chairs, bar stools and benches.
“We wish we had more time,” Raksin said, adding, “It is a drastic change from what it was just six months ago.”
Today, the operation continues to produce furniture that uses metal tubes and frames and other components with finishes that are valued by retailers and designers alike.
“The feedback has been amazing,” Majer said, noting that the company reached out to as many accounts as possible through its reps to let people know the company was moving forward under new ownership. “Everyone that came in said “we are happy you guys are doing this.” A lot of customers that stopped buying from us are reengaging now.”
With its showroom presentation, the company aimed to bring a new look with new finishes, along with new designs of chairs and table bases.
“Every single thing in here is either in a new finish on an existing product or a new product,” Majer said. “And almost every single dining chair on the floor is a brand-new design that we hadn’t had before. Some of the table bases also are new.”
The changes drew notice, particularly with those familiar with the previous line.
“People who were here who had stopped selling the product, they came in and were all excited about what we are doing in such a short period of time,” Raksin said.
The news is good, particularly for a plant that the new owners said is operating at a fraction of its peak production capacity in the early 2000s.
“There is a lot of room to grow,” Majer said.
Moving forward, the company aims to bring even more newness to the mix. The difference now compared to just a few months ago is that it has much more time to accomplish this in time for the October High Point Market.
“It’s been a very positive experience so far,” Raksin said, adding that he believes the company can bring 100 new items to the next market. “People love what they see, and part of the excitement is how we can turn this around. That is what we enjoy doing. … We get bored very quickly.”
