Conrad Boos and his son John began harvesting sycamore trees in 1887 in Central Illinois. They processed the trees at a family-owned sawmill, sawing them into thick wood slabs that blacksmiths used as heavy-duty worktops. Such tops could withstand the heaving pounding smithies were famous for back in the day.
Boos sycamore blocks were being used for wide ranging applications in textile mills and manufacturing shops when [John Boos](https://butcherblockco.com) came up with the idea of mounting the wood slabs on legs and expanding the companys market into butchers shops. The innovation was so profound it gave rise to an all-new product category and name - the butchers block - for which John Boos is world famous.
One hundred and thirty years later, the Boos Block brand name can be found on all types of kitchen furniture, including islands, carts and tables, as well as cutting boards, chopping blocks and countertops. Boos has also become a major player in commercial kitchen equipment, including stainless steel work tables and enclosed base cabinets, as well as stainless steel sinks and accessories.
Heres how Ted Gravenhorst, Jr., VP of Sales & Marketing at Boos & Co., explains the companys long-term success. Consumers expect the very best from John Boos; they always have. The only way to meet their expectations is by continuously improving the design, functionality and workmanship of Boos products.
Butcher Block Co., a leading Boos online dealer, is celebrating Boos 130th anniversary by staging a consumer giveaway. The grand prize is a thousand-dollar Boos butcher block countertop. Kathleen Grodsky, V.P. of Marketing at BBC, explained, BBC is eager for homeowners, builders, contractors and designers to discover the beauty and durability of butcher block and how easy it is to design and price Boos countertops on the BBC website. The winner of the sweepstakes will be entitled to design his or her own custom countertop made of maple, walnut, cherry or oak and constructed in edge-grain, end-grain or blended style, Grodsky continued. Consumers can enter the sweepstakes by visiting the companys Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ButcherBlockCo) before March 31, 2017.
BBC carries the full John Boos line, which ranges from counter and island tops to kitchen islands, carts and tables with butcher block tops, plus wood cutting boards and stainless steel commercial kitchen equipment. In addition to John Boos, BBC carries products made by eight other manufacturers who supply similar and other types of kitchen furniture, plus such accessories as kitchen knives, knife blocks and wooden serving bowls.
