City Bench

About City Bench

City Bench operates from a shop in Higganum, Connecticut, with a milling facility in nearby Hamden. The company was founded by Ted Esselstyn and Zeb Esselstyn as a limited liability company. The idea emerged when Ted, an artist and furniture maker, was working on a Connecticut Trash Museum exhibit about throw-away culture and recognized that street trees removed by municipalities could be upcycled into meaningful furniture. The company transforms urban trees—salvaged from cities, towns, and institutions—into one-of-a-kind furniture, slabs, and lumber. Workflows include design, milling, fabrication, and final assembly, all performed by hand at their Connecticut shops. The team includes shop manager Ben Komola and sculptor Mike Donovan, though total headcount is not disclosed. City Bench serves education and nonprofit clients such as Yale University, Harvard University, and the University of Connecticut; commercial customers including PepsiCo, Bridgewater Associates, and lululemon; museums like the Florence Griswold Museum and Mystic Seaport Museum; and healthcare institutions such as Yale New Haven Hospital and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. The company also works directly with municipalities, arborists, architects, and interior designers. Each piece ships with a “birth certificate” documenting the tree’s origin and story, reflecting the founders’ goal to create positive environmental and social change by turning a waste stream into a value stream.

Company details

Location

Higganum, Connecticut

Company type

Manufacturer

Listed under

• Furniture & Woodworking Manufacturers in Connecticut

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