Innovation

Founded in 1970 by Joe Frisse, Rustbelt has always been dedicated to producing custom, one of a kind furniture that is built to last. All Rustbelt products are exclusively produced in Cleveland, Ohio, using largely reclaimed wood pieces from within 200 miles of their Cleveland workshop. Rustbelt focuses on producing commercial products covering a variety of industries such as hospitality, multifamily development, workplace, and entertainment just to name a few. 

Initially, the Rustbelt business model focused on case goods that were installed onsite, such as built in cabinets, and working largely with libraries and universities. In 2011 the company was sold and rebranded to Reclaimed Cleveland. The company, with a new name and ownership, had a newfound interest in reclaiming the greater Cleveland area and focusing largely on sustainability efforts. In 2013, the company was rebranded once again to Rustbelt Reclamation. The focus of Rustbelt Reclamation was to emphasize both a pride in the history of the steel belt region and a desire to reclaim and reform this history. Through operating out of a former factory founded in 1872 and using reclaimed material found directly in their ‘backyard’, Rustbelt Reclamation was able to both embrace their midwestern roots while simultaneously bettering the world and environment around them. 

In November of 2024, Rustbelt Reclamation was again rebranded to Rustbelt to accommodate the increase in the production of products with a more sophisticated aesthetic. However, this name change did not affect the company's dedication to sustainability. Through programs such as their Tree to Table initiative — which repurposes trees that are either scheduled to be taken down or have already fallen due to natural disasters — Rustbelt is continuously finding new and innovative ways to mitigate waste and reduce landfill occupation. Furthermore, their Heirloom partnership as well as their greenguard-certified finishes ensures that furniture remains in use for generations and supports a philosophy that rejects disposability. As one of only 6 manufacturers in the United States that can sell an heirloom-certified product, Rustbelt president Megan Barker takes extreme pride in the emphasis of landfill reduction and diversion that is at the core of Rustbelt’s philosophy. Rustbelt continues to embrace products and equipment that other companies may deem 'junk' or 'unusable,' repurposing them to create works of art with a story — all while bettering the environment around them.

Inspiration

One of the main drivers of the team is that they are native Clevelanders and “a group of friends who [happen]” to share a passion for furniture. Utilizing their midwestern roots, the Rustbelt team relies on resources within and around the Cleveland region to minimize harmful waste in our environments. Another major inspiration and motivation is being a women-run company in an industry primarily led by men. The crew aims to redefine barriers within carpentry, specifically by “[providing] solutions that other manufacturers would turn away.” 

Overall impact

Rustbelt has a notable impact on the environment and local and broader communities through its commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and community engagement. Its environmentally conscious “Tree to Table” program is at the heart of Rustbelt’s operations. By salvaging hardwood trees that would otherwise be discarded - due to disease, age, or construction - they can transform them into heirloom-quality furniture. This initiative reduces landfill waste and carbon emissions and meaningfully promotes reusing natural resources. By sourcing materials locally and processing them at its Cleveland facility, Rustbelt significantly minimizes transportation emissions and supports the regional economy. This commitment to sustainability extends to every piece the company creates, reflecting a belief in long-term value over mass production and disposability. 

Rustbelt’s impact also expands to the local community by championing skilled labor and artistry. As a woman-led business, it fosters inclusive leadership and provides stable, creative jobs to artisans, woodworkers, and designers in Northeast Ohio. The company’s work has gained national recognition in hospitality and commercial design, elevating Cleveland’s reputation as a hub for high-quality, design-forward manufacturing. Moreover, Rustbelt engages with its community through storytelling, mainly via “The Grove,” its blog that educates customers about sustainable design, craftsmanship, and the importance of local sourcing.

Business benefit

Rustbelt has only 17 workers so naturally the business is very tight knit and everyone spends a lot of time together. Megan Barker refers to Rustbelt as a lifestyle rather than a job. The goal of the business is not to grow into a giant corporation and, although Rustbelt is a for-profit business, she considers it just as important to have a good culture as it is to make money. Megan Barker is sure that everyone that works at Rustbelt is overqualified for their job. Some of them have masters in architecture or have studied at some amazing places. This helps turn the culture of Rustbelt into a group of makers.

Social and environmental benefit

There are 2 main areas in which Rustbelt benefits the environment. The first is their tree-to-table program. Tree-to-table consists of the team recovering trees cut down in the local area and turning them into custom furniture. This helps prevent these trees from going to waste and helps Rustbelt guarantee that their furniture starts with high-quality wood. Additionally, it means that Rustbelt can track exactly how and where the wood is cut down and then prepared for the furniture. In addition, it is cheaper than the traditional method of sourcing wood. This makes the furniture less expensive for customers, while giving the furniture a cool story. Rustbelt has a mission to sell furniture that will last forever. 

Looking at the future, Rustbelt at the moment is still growing. In particular, Rustbelt is looking to grow and establish a standard line of products. Right now, all of their pieces are custom and completely made-to-order, but Megan Barker has a goal to add a catalog for potential customers in the next 1-2 years. She believes that having a list of standard offers will help Rustbelt continue to grow and bring in more customers. Additionally, Rustbelt is primarily B2B sales, so they are looking at expanding to other consumer bases in the future. However, she is also happy with where the company and the market are right now. There is a growing base of people who are looking for furniture that is made well and will last a lifetime. Megan Barker says, “At the end of the day, they are really proud of what they put out there in the world.”

Interview

Megan Barker, President