FORSEY’S FINE FURNITURE

Amid the hum of traffic and the rhythm of redevelopment stands a storefront that has outlasted trends and recessions. A family-owned and operated business, Forsey’s Fine Furniture + Interior Design is more than the changing face of the neighborhood; it’s a story of a family’s devotion to craftsmanship, service, and staying power for over the past seven decades. 

It all began in 1951, when Jack “Grandpa” Forsey and his brother Harry, both World War II veterans, opened a small furniture shop in Salt Lake City. Jack had flown transport planes in the Pacific during the war and later piloted experimental jets. Grandpa Jack flew for American Airlines where he met his wife, Pearl, a flight attendant who shared his sense of adventure. Together, they built a family and a legacy rooted firmly in Utah soil.

In those early years, Forsey’s was known for its handcrafted, heirloom-quality pieces — furniture that was built to last. “My grandpa built his reputation one sofa at a time,” says Jack Forsey, Jr., the current owner and third-generation leader of the business. “He believed in doing the job right, taking care of people, and standing behind the product.”

That philosophy carried through the next generation. Grandpa Jack’s son, Bob Forsey, joined the business after a career in accounting, helping guide Forsey’s into a modern era. Bob’s sister, Tricia, and his brother John, played key roles as well before both eventually leaving the business by the early 2000s. “It was truly a family affair,” Jack says with a smile. “Everyone pitched in, and we all learned the value of work early on.”

Jack was no exception. “I started here when I was eight years old, tying strings to sale tags,” he laughs. “It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me the basics.”

By the late 1990s, Forsey’s had earned a strong reputation for carrying Stickley Furniture, one of the most respected names in American craftsmanship. 

“Stickley furniture has been around since 1901; they’re the godfathers of the Mission Arts and Crafts movement,” Jack explains. In 2003, the Forsey’s even expanded into Scottsdale, Arizona, where they introduced Stickley’s timeless oak & cherry designs to a new audience. The Arizona venture thrived until the 2007 recession hit hard, prompting the family to bring their focus and their roots back home to Utah.

Jack’s own path took a few detours before he returned to the family business. He worked for Starbucks through college while earning a degree in Political Science and History, followed by an MBA from the University of Utah. He also taught in the Youth-in-Custody or Youth Educational Support School (YESS) program before he got that telephone call from his father. “Dad asked me to come back and help out for a year,” Jack recalls. “I thought it would be temporary but I fell in love with the business again.”

That return would prove pivotal. In 2016, Jack and his wife Michelle took the reins and began to reshape Forsey’s for a new generation, introducing new lines and focusing on design trends and expanding operations outside of Salt Lake City. 

Jack attended the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a free version of a “micro-MBA” that helps entrepreneurs grow their operations. The impact was immediate: “We grew the business 80 percent in two years,” he says proudly. 

That same year, Jack was named by Home Furnishings Business as one of the “40 Under 40” rising leaders in the national furniture industry for “innovating and building upon the traditional retail furniture showroom model by expanding web presence, promoting vendor-based merchandising, and catering to the design trade.” 

Even with the growth, Forsey’s has never lost its community feel. Today, Jack’s father Bob, though retired, still visits the store most mornings, wanders around, makes sure everyone is fed and healthy, then heads out for the day. Jack’s own children are following in his footsteps. His eight-year-old son David helps dust the showroom, while his teenage daughter, Finn, is off chasing her own dreams after high school. “It’s funny to think we’re in our fourth generation already,” Jack says. 

Today, the store is preparing for another transformation. A major renovation will begin in December, which will include the reconstruction of almost a third of Forsey’s main building, creating a new 5000 square foot gallery which will become Utah’s new home for Thayer Coggin, Stickley’s Walnut Grove Collection, and Precedent Home Furnishings. 

“Modern Loft is what we are calling it at the moment as it will occupy the entirety of our third floor,” Jack explains. “These are lines exclusive to us in Utah that are the very best at what they do and have been customer favorites for years, so having them in one beautiful cohesive space just makes sense.”

If all goes as planned, construction will wrap up by early spring. The refreshed space will offer the same warm, inviting atmosphere locals have loved since the 1950s, only now with cohesive brand placement, flexibility, and the kind of personal service that’s increasingly rare in the retail world.

For Jack and his family, the remodel isn’t just about new floors or furniture layouts. It’s about continuing a story that began more than seventy years ago — a story of craftsmanship, family, and community that has helped shape Sugarhouse itself. 

“Utah has supported us through every chapter,” Jack says. “And we’re proud to still be here, three generations later, helping people make their houses feel like home.”