Sur La Table
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (kitchenware) |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Shirley Collins |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Kathy Tierney (former CEO) |
| Products | Cookware, cutlery, baking supplies, small appliances, glassware, bar accessories, housewares, food products, outdoor goods |
Number of employees | Not specified |
| Parent | Marquee Brands and CSC Generation (since 2020) |
| Website | www |
Sur La Table, Inc. is a privately owned retailer based in Seattle, Washington, focusing on kitchenware items including cookware, cutlery, baking supplies, small appliances, glassware, bar accessories, housewares, food products, and outdoor goods. By 2018, the company operated 184 locations across 32 states in the U.S., with additional sales conducted through its online platform and catalogs. A distinctive feature of Sur La Table is its culinary instruction offered at more than 80 venues, fostering enhanced customer interaction and brand loyalty. The company intends to incorporate kitchen spaces into all future store openings to broaden this hands-on experience. Additionally, Sur La Table publishes a food-centric blog titled A Sharp Knife & Salt, which showcases chefs, dining establishments, and related products. Its corporate offices are situated in Seattle’s Georgetown district.
History
Founded in 1972 by Shirley Collins, Sur La Table began with a single retail outlet located at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Collins divested the business in 1995.
In 2005, under CEO Kathy Tierney’s leadership, the company adopted a growth strategy focused on "lifestyle centers," urban shopping streets, and malls that feature upscale national brands alongside local retailers. These locations were often anchored by high-end or organic grocery stores to encourage frequent customer visits. This strategy helped Sur La Table become the second-largest specialty cookware retailer in the United States, trailing only Williams Sonoma.
The company introduced its website and gift registry service in January 2011. Later that same year, Investcorp from Bahrain acquired Sur La Table when it operated 86 stores.
In February 2020, Sur La Table formed a partnership with Discovery’s Food Network Kitchen to develop a hybrid cooking platform that combines in-store classes with online streaming content.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of all 130 stores in March 2020. By June, the company announced workforce reductions affecting approximately 18% of its corporate staff without providing severance packages. In July 2020, Sur La Table filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and was subsequently purchased by Marquee Brands and CSC Generation for $88.9 million. Following this acquisition, plans were made to shutter 73 locations by September.
In March 2025, Sur La Table broadened its product offerings and market presence through the acquisition of Seattle Coffee Gear, a retailer specializing in coffee equipment.