History
Semolina Designs in Oakland, Ca.
Sergei Hasegawa and a partner found Semolina Design, making custom furniture in Oakland, California.
Over time, Sergei finds he likes making custom cabinetry and gradually narrows his focus to cabinetry.
While building cabinets, Sergei considers his own health and makes a move toward healthy, non-toxic production, leading him to produce some of the earliest ‘green’ cabinets in the United States.
purekitchen’s showroom at 66 North 11th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Sergei moves to NYC and founds purekitchen, a cabinetry design and retail business focused on environmentally healthy cabinetry for both the homeowner and the craftsmen that build them.
purekitchen appears at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), introducing one of the first “green” residential cabinetry lines to the NYC architectural and design community.
As the company grows it takes a leadership role as a private label product (outsourced local manufacturing), educating multiple OEM vendors about green material sources and suppliers
Develops wheat board core cabinet products. Begins using Richlite paper composite countertops, and becomes an early adopter of NAUF materials, Purebond Plywood, Bamboo plywood, and low VOC finishes. With a close relationship with Bettencourt Green Building Supplies (now Ecosupply), integrates rapidly renewable and alternative panel materials for applications in kitchen cabinetry.
Well in advance of the 2009 and 2012 CARB2 emissions standards, purekitchen begins providing residential cabinetry to numerous chemically sensitive customers.
Completes green multi-family residential projects in Brooklyn – Atlantic Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, Mak Residences.
After some less-than-stellar experiences with other manufacturers, purekitchen finds an ideal partner in Imperia, who are able to make the perfect cabinets, exactly to specifications, perfect every time.
It was beautiful.
The design and sales side of purekitchen is merged with the manufacturing and retail kitchen sales of the Imperia Kitchen Cabinets under the parent company, Cory Manufacturing Inc.
But wait - Imperia?
What do they have to do with this story?
Let’s rewind the clock.
David Mansfield starts making custom cabinets in his cellar at 250 Reed Street in Hansen, Massachusetts.
Imperia Cabinet Corporation is founded in 1965 by David Mansfield and Kenneth Dahlstrom in a former cranberry warehouse across the street from Ocean Spray at 1000 Main Street in Hansen, MA.
Imperia introduces its first line of frameless cabinetry products, a design offering easier access with 10% more interior storage space – one of the first companies to offer the design in the United States.
Imperia offers one of two kitchen manufacturer options for Deck House customers. A variety of custom proprietary doors were designed and offered only through Acorn Deck House.
Imperia dealer network continues to grow, extending from New Jersey to Maine, earning a reputation for their high quality New England cabinetmaking and kitchen casework supplemented with innovative features.
New ownership group acquires Imperia, changes the name to Imperia Corporation. Factory is moved from Hansen to current location at 343 Manley Street, West Bridgewater, MA. This building was purpose built by Wood Hu kitchens in 1965.
Imperia’s first project built for purekitchen.
Imperia brings on purekitchen as a client and begins to manufacture private label cabinets for them.
Private investors, led by Sergei Hasegawa, acquire the assets of the Imperia Corporation and merge them with purekitchen, forming the Cory Manufacturing parent company.
Cory Manufacturing Inc.’s 35,000 sq. ft. modern manufacturing facility continues to produce high quality kitchen cabinetry and casework, fulfilling orders for both Imperia and purekitchen, with both offering in-house finishing for custom colors, finishes, and low-VOC options for highly customized solutions.