By Scott Dalton
Ramsey, MN — The history of Danner’s Cabinet Shop (DCS), located here, spans six decades of quality, custom cabinet manufacturing and three (going on four) generations of leadership by the same family.
DCS purchases close to 400,000 board feet a year, and according to Danner, the most popular species for cabinets include paint-grade Alder, and Rift White Oak, followed closely by Rustic Hickory, which has recently become more difficult to source. The company purchases its lumber primarily from regional lumber distributors.
Owner Troy Danner recalled an early memory from when he was in eighth grade: he would get off the bus from his hometown school in Ramsey, MN to grab a broom and sweep the floors, helping his dad out in the company office before hopping on his bike and pedaling home.
“My grandfather, George, started the company back in 1968,” Danner recalled. “My father, Ronald, took it over from his father and I am the third-generation owner. I have four children and my two older children – Nathan and Nicholas – are working for me now, so the plan is for a fourth generation to take over at some point.”
“I’ve had builders who’ve worked for many different cabinet shops in their career and they tell me that they would rather install my cabinets than someone else’s. That’s what sets us apart.”
Troy Danner, owner , Danner’s Cabinet Shop
A lot has changed in the world of cabinetmaking since the late 1960s when DCS was founded. Innovations such as soft-closing components for cabinets have become the norm instead of the once-popular side-mount door hinges and extensions. But for Danner, the biggest change for DCS has been who they serve.
He noted that when his dad was running the company in the 1980s and ‘90s, 100 percent of the company’s business consisted of new-home construction. The housing market bubble and crash in 2008, however, changed everything.
“We needed to diversify as the market was changing,” he explained. “We went from all-new homes to remodeling and working directly with homeowners.”
DCS specializes in custom cabinetry including kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, but Danner emphasized that DCS is primarily focused on custom projects for customers, including bookcases, bars, and entertainment centers. The company also offers finishing and installation services.
Danner reported that as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the country, DCS has seen the homeowner-direct side of the market surge, especially when it came to remodeling. “We are busy – at least here in Minnesota, and I’m blessed to have people who have worked with me for so many years,” he said.
Danner noted he and his team have been working to maximize the efficiency of their 18,000 square-foot facility with new equipment and machinery.
The company’s U-shaped building features a front office and showroom space. The individual offices serve as an extension of the showroom with each office ornamented with different species of lumber. From there, the viewer moves through the CAD room before entering the manufacturing area.
“On the back part of the U, you have the door department and then the drawer department in the middle,” Danner explained. “You then move on to Assembly and Prep, where they hang the doors, before heading out to the loading dock.”
Danner emphasized that the future success of the company hinges on its ability to adapt as new challenges and opportunities arise.
“In the short term, we are focused on technology and upgrading the machinery and equipment including software,” he said. “It’s tough because I don’t know what the future brings. What I’ve learned over the years is that you just have to diversify when things change. The key is being flexible. So, if the remodeling side slows down, I might go more into the commercial side of the industry.”
Still, Danner said, there is one thing that will remain consistent regardless of what market changes may come: a multi-generational commitment to quality in everything that DCS does.
Of the company’s enduring success, he said, “It has to come from our high-end quality and customer service. We have had the same quality custom cabinet process for years. I’ve had builders who’ve worked for many different cabinet shops in their career and they tell me that they would rather install my cabinets than someone else’s. That’s what sets us apart.”
To learn more about DCS, visit www.dannerscabinets.com.
