HOW WE GOT HERE…
Rescue Slabs was founded at the start of the global pandemic in early 2020. At the time, John was running his own custom furniture business from a small shop in Elmsford, NY. When a local tree service began removing a massive Red Maple tree from the property, John reached out to his family friend and seasoned woodworker, Tommy Bryant, to see if they could salvage some of the wood from this remarkable tree.
Tommy arrived the next day with a brand-new, big chainsaw, and the two quickly set to work building their own custom sled to mill the lumber. After some trial and error, they managed to transform the tree into some of the most beautiful lumber they had ever seen.
Most urban trees are discarded—sent to landfills, mulch piles, or fire pits. It's rare for these logs to be repurposed into lumber. Yet, what they discovered is that trees grown in urban environments often yield some of the most unique color and grain patterns you can imagine.
Falling in love with the process and the idea of rescuing these one-of-a-kind materials, Tommy and John officially founded Rescue Slabs.
Fast forward nearly five years, and Rescue Slabs is now based in Middletown, NY, with a 3,000 sqft custom woodshop and a two-acre lumber yard. Our small but dedicated team works closely with local arborists and tree services across the tri-state area to rescue logs of all shapes and sizes. These logs are processed in our shop into sustainable, kiln-dried lumber and live edge slabs.
In addition to milling beautiful slabs, we also specialize in crafting one-of-a-kind, handcrafted furniture. Each piece is carefully designed and made with the same attention to detail and respect for the wood's natural beauty that goes into our slabs. Whether it’s a stunning dining table, a custom desk, or unique shelving, we bring our passion for woodworking to every project. Our handcrafted furniture is built to last and made to highlight the exquisite grain patterns and colors of the rescued wood.
We offer these incredible pieces for sale in our shop, which is open Thursday to Saturday every week.
MEET THE TEAM.
-
Tommy Bryant
Tommy, Co-Founder of Rescue Slabs
Tommy is a lifelong woodworker with over 35 years of experience as a professional carpenter in New York City. Throughout his career, he has specialized in the intricacies of complex builds and custom designs. With a keen eye for detail and exceptional problem-solving skills, Tommy ensures that each project meets the highest standards of craftsmanship. As the backbone of the engineering at Rescue Slabs, Tommy’s expertise drives the structural integrity and precision behind every build.
-
John Martin
John, Co-Founder of Rescue SlabsJohn is the head of logistics at Rescue Slabs and brings over 10 years of expertise as a professional furniture maker. Specializing in hardwood lumber, joinery, and finishing techniques, John ensures that every piece crafted is of the highest quality. His meticulous approach and deep knowledge of woodworking are essential in guaranteeing that each item leaving the shop meets Rescue Slabs' exacting standards.
