E. F. San Juan Is Building A Legacy

Established in 1976, E. F. San Juan, located in Youngstown, FL, offers Hardwood architectural mouldings, millwork, cabinetry, windows and doors. Approximately 400,000 board feet of domestic Hardwoods are purchased annually by E. F. San Juan. Species utilized in the manufacturing process include FAS1F Poplar, Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Black Walnut, Cherry, Select and pecky Cypress.

With inception dating back more than four decades, E. F. San Juan has overcome many challenges. Among them was a catastrophic category-five hurricane in October of 2018 that decimated the company’s facilities, followed swiftly by the pandemic that created significant challenges just as they were finding their sea legs again after rebuilding. According to company president Edward A. San Juan, with hardship came opportunities for growth. “We adopted a new management method that transformed our company within that time frame after the hurricane. The gains we experienced from that are invaluable, even with the initial setbacks from the storm. We regrouped with our team and considered our options. We laid out a plan for a new building. It took about a year to reconstruct, and everything was laid out and connected with all the things we needed to run efficiently.”

E. F. San Juan was also in the process of fortifying a new cabinetry manufacturing facility during this time. “The cabinetry building was the only one that was not destroyed by the hurricane, so we moved our entire staff and operations into that building,” Edward shared. “My dad (Edward F. “Ed” San Juan) was key in implementing how we would get our divisions into new buildings. That cabinetry division was something that we had just started, and now it is clicking right along.” The division creates custom cabinetry, shelving, built-ins and more for new-build luxury homes as well as renovations, working closely with architects, builders, interior designers, and homeowners alike to ensure a smooth process from concept to delivery and install.

Edward said the cabinetry division comprises mostly domestic Hardwoods, but occasionally there are some softwoods used. “The majority of our cabinetry is manufactured from Cherry, Walnut, White Oak, Mahogany or Soft Maple,” he said. “The softwoods we use are on the custom end. Old growth heart Cypress is a finite commodity in our part of the world and is much sought after by architects and designers trying to stay as close to the original vernacular as possible when they are designing legacy homes.”

The third-generation family-owned company also includes Edward’s eldest son, Eddie San Juan, as its current production manager in the millwork shop. It’s truly a family affair, with multiple siblings and in-laws also on the team. Edward shared, “My dad, Ed San Juan, founded the company in 1976, and I joined him a few years later. My wife, Mary Kathryn, is our controller and my brother-in-law Buddy Czubaj is the general manager. My son Eddie is now our production manager and my daughter Lydia is over purchasing in our cabinetry division. I also have a younger son, Mario, who is 16 and works here during the summers. My niece Sierra also just finished her summer internship with us.”

Ed, at 84, is still involved daily at the company. Beyond his role as the CEO and mentor to many young woodworkers throughout the years, he directly oversees many projects and is very hands-on in his approach. Looking back at his humble beginnings, countless accomplishments and the legacy that his family will carry on, he says, “The All-American dream is still alive.”

Edward said one of the keys to keeping the operation successful has been teamwork. “Not only are we a family-owned company, but we are operated by entire families as well. Our longest employee celebrated 31 years here in 2022. We have a number of people who are in their 20th year and longer. These are people who were 19 or 20 years old when we hired them. We’ve watched them grow up; they’ve watched my kids grow up. Our employees have married each other in some cases, and we have multiple mother/daughter and father/son teams here. A parent who likes working here brings their children in, and we have siblings who work here, so it’s truly family-oriented and operated.”

E. F. San Juan has been involved in many interesting and noteworthy projects. In 2021 they released a short documentary film on the company’s growth, and in the summer of 2022, introduced a new web series titled Real Wood: Crafted Stories with Eddie San Juan, with a second season due to release online this fall. They were also a partner in the VIE Magazine Legacy Show Home in Seagrove Beach, FL, last year.

The E. F. San Juan master craftsmen work with architects, contractors and homeowners with a passion for making dream homes a reality. The life of a tree, with each unique grain and texture, brings its majestic beauty to every home bearing the E. F. San Juan fingerprint. The company has evolved from modest facilities and equipment to a state-of-the-art facility featuring the world’s finest woodworking equipment. Coupled with a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, the company continues to set the standard for quality architectural millwork in the markets it serves in the Southeastern Coastal U.S. and beyond.

“We believe building, renovating and restoring should be an exciting, fulfilling and pleasurable experience,” GM Buddy Czubaj said. “We believe a partnership with E. F. San Juan can make dreams a reality. If you can imagine it, we can create it. Our craftsmen, designers and sales team, helmed by the company’s owners and dedicated leadership team, create innovative, artistic and efficient solutions. We do not just seek customers; we seek partners as committed to their experience as we are.”

For more infomation, visit www.efsanjuan.com.