914INC. Westchester Magazine Sixth Annual Small Business Awards
Robert A. Rising, Owner
Yonkers and Hartsdale • Outstanding Minority-Owned Business
When Robert A. Rising, aka “The Black Lumberjack,” realized he couldn’t find his dream furniture locally, he decided to build it himself. By 2004, the Mount Vernon resident’s passion project flourished into a unique business: NYCitySlab, a custom-woodworking company that mills lumber and creates furniture from more than 25 species of reclaimed local wood. The operation has grown to include a shop in Yonkers and a lumberyard in Hartsdale, employing eight workers.
Rising won’t fell a tree just for profit and only collects trees that are old, dangerous, or otherwise need to come down for natural reasons. The lumber is air-dried for one year per inch of thickness, finished in a kiln, and presented to customers to choose the perfect wood for their projects. Rising’s eco-friendly handiwork earned him a spot as one of 10 “makers” honored at the 2016 Martha Stewart American Made Summit.
NYCitySlab’s latest projects focus on public and community spaces, including turning cleared trees from the Sarah Lawrence College campus into 35 tables for its new Barbara Walters Campus Center and furnishing the Roberto Clemente Plaza in the Bronx with 86 benches made of Westchester wood.
Rising is particularly fond of projects that have a personal touch. “People call me to take down a tree that’s been in their yard for years, one that’s sentimental, and I get to put it right back in their house as something new,” he says. “I’m taking something that would be discarded and turning it into something that has value.”
Special Night
NYCitySlab and its dynamic and entrepreneurial owner, Robert Rising, one of several honorees at the 914INC 2018 Small Business Awards.
Yay NYCitySlab!!
333 Kent Ave floors
We reclaimed all yellow pine beams from 333 Kent Ave and milled flooring for a barn in Bedford, NY
Log life
Our walnut log has become pretty popular with the kids
Cherry coffee table
Teresa and her mom came in looking for a walnut and maple table, after being in the shop and seeing all the wood, they decided to go with cherry and a great call.
Showroom Updates
We’ve finally got our showroom ready to exhibit while we add a few finishing touches, baseboards, etc., and a bigger window that allows our clients to look through to the shop and see real time fabrication and finished work.
front view
side view
Back view
Drone views
Both Mills
The wood pile
The LT40
The mill unpacked
Brand New Era
After some time of scrimping, saving and having to go without, we are finally bringing home to Hartsdale our brand new Wood-Mizer! Couldn't be any prouder if we had built this baby ourselves. We now look forward to taking our business to the next level. We definitely have big plans for all we want to do, including producing more raw lumber and finished products at a faster rate. Oh. Happy. Day.
Ash logs on the mill
Pine tables for woman’s center in sunset park
walked it up four flights of stairs.
Walnut table delivered
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
tables and seats
Metal barnacle
Book shelf. All designed by SLO Architecture and fabricated by us.
Roberto Clemente Plaza Bench Project
Over a year in the making, the 86 benches for the newly done Roberto Clemente Plaza in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, have been completed and almost all have been installed.
This has been a most challenging but infinitely satisfying project for us, and we are grateful for the privilege to have played a part in this project for the Bronx.
Check it out...
Minetta Street Beams
We were on site saving beams that will soon be tables and flooring.
All hands on Benches
With the deadline near we need the entire team involved to pull this off.
assembly
Benches are delivered :)
86 benches delivered to Roberto Clemente Plaza
planter No.2
front side of planter No. 2
Working for our neighbors
When a local client builds a new home and needs to furnish it, we love these kinds of calls.
Walnut desk and bookshelf
coffee table
Decisions, this is how it all gets started.
White Oak All Day Long
Just installed this stunning live edge, White Oak table with our powder coated Baldwin legs, at a très chic downtown company.
