It is the question restaurant owners ask us most: should I reupholster my booths or buy new ones? The short answer: it depends on the frame, not the fabric.
When reupholstery wins
If the wood frame is solid and what is failing is what you can see — cracked vinyl, tired foam, open seams — reupholstery is your best investment:
- A fraction of the cost of building a new booth.
- Less downtime: we reupholster on-site or in our Glendale shop, section by section, so you never close.
- A complete new look: pick from our vinyl and fabric decks (over 50 high-traffic vinyl colors) and the booth leaves looking factory-new.
- Every TCL reupholstery includes fresh foam plus frame and spring reinforcement, backed by a structural and upholstery warranty.
When buying new wins
- The frame is rotted, loose, or broken in several places.
- You want a different size or shape (say, going from straight benches to an L- or U-shaped corner).
- You are opening a new location and need exact measurements for the space.
In that case, our TCL Essential line delivers a standard 4-ft booth in about a week.
The 30-second test
Sit in the booth and shift side to side. Does it creak, rock, or sink on one side? That is structure: quote new. Solid but ugly? Reupholster and done.
Learn about our commercial reupholstery service or get a free quote — send us a photo of your seating and we will tell you honestly which option makes sense.