Established in 1977 over 25 years in business!
Daryl Stokes, being one of the original owners of this company, is still the active and main operating manager of this company.
For those of you who wish to access our old site, please cut and paste the link below to go to the prior STOHANS site
http://stohansold.superlinks.com
Photo By Pat Hathaway
THE HISTORY of STOHANS GALLERY
In the early 70’s, Daryl Stokes completed studies of fine arts at the
University of South Florida in Tampa and ventured west to Monterey, Ca.
While living in a bungalow on Jacks Peak, Stokes built a small workshop
and began designing and creating redwood furniture as a hobby. Originally
an abstract expressionist painter, he became intrigued with driftwood and
burls. The endless array of shapes and sizes lent themselves to
unique freeform designs.
Daryl Stokes cleaning a redwood stump.
Daryl, showing abstract redwood sculpture.
A fellow woodworker, Greg Hansen, became fascinated by
Stokes creations of driftwood furniture. Combining efforts, Stokes
and Hansen began developing new techniques and design concepts for
the production of a unique style of natural
wood furnishings. Thus, the name "STOHANS" evolved.
Daryl Stokes & Greg Hansen
Daryl, creating Stohans sign.
In October 1977, Stohans opened a small gallery at 807 Cannery Row.
The gallery was a unique organic environment with groupings of sofas
and chairs covered with leather and sheepskins, driftwood bars, lamps,
and various freeform burl tables.
Original Stohans Gallery at 807 Cannery Row {second
floor}
Public response was very favorable and increasing popularity made
it necessary to create more products. The small workshop in Jacks Peak
could not keep up with the demand and more area was needed for raw
wood storage. A year later, Stohans secured a new shop location at
484 Cannery Row. It was housed in the large cannery building called the
San Xavier. The reduction plant still had remnants of the old fishing
industry machines and equipment. Situated at the shoreline’s edge,
the tall wooden building, isolated by vacant lots with other
cement cannery foundations, served as a truly inspirational setting for
the artistic endeavors of Stokes and Hansen.
Stohans Gallery at 484 Cannery Row
View of Cannery Row & driftwood piles.
View of San Xavier Cannery & old foundations.
In the months that followed, new woodworking facilities were built
and Stohans began hiring and training more craftsman. Masses of driftwood
were salvaged from northern California beaches and burls hauled down
from logged-off mountains. Unusual interior showroom areas were developed
and decorated with huge redwood panels hand cut with Alaskan chainsaw
mills. Large milled timbers were assembled to create room areas and display structures. Thick redwood slabs were utilized for massive display tables, shelving units, and benches. Outdoor courtyard areas were also created with driftwood landscapes, outdoor sculptures, cascading fountains, and unfinished burl tables.
Loading massive redwood stumps
Stohans original crew.
Daryl, cutting with 7' chain saw.
Daryl & Steve cutting log with Alaska chain saw mill.
Daryl, posing with 6' chain saw
Cliff Short, standing on top.
Photo By Pat Hathaway
THE HISTORY of STOHANS GALLERY
For several years, Stohans continued to enlarge its production capacity
and began supplying other galleries in San Francisco, Santa Barbara,
and Lake Tahoe. Eventually, Stokes decided that the wholesale ventures
became increasingly repetitive and artistically restraining, so he began
concentrating more energy into designing more exotic, specialized pieces
which could only be found at the Stohans Gallery. Because of this new
versatility, Stohans produced many custom-order furnishings
which included complete driftwood furniture groups for rooms, offices,
restaurants, and entire homes.
Driftwood Furniture Group
Suspended Fountain & Abstract Redwood Sculpture
Bar & Stools Group
During the 1980’s, Stohans began producing original new designs of
indoor/outdoor redwood fountains and massive waterfalls made from
hollowed-out burls. Exotic furniture pieces were also conceived and
included enormous curved sofas and lounges upholstered with sheepskins.
There were beds, dressers, huge mirrors, standing lamps, bar sets,
wall designs, abstract sculptures, and many other
incredible one-of a kind pieces.
Stohans became increasingly popular as a tourist destination and
achieved recognition as one of the most unique galleries in the
California central coast. Among the many delighted visitors,
one man called it "A visual feast!"
It was always difficult to describethe store, you just had to experience it
for yourself. Stohans participation in Cannery Row’s strong tourist industry
was conducive to the gallery’s development of national and international
clientel. Many of their purchases were
crated and shipped coast to coast as well as world wide.
Gallery Displays
Gallery Main Entrance
Gallery Sales Counter
Daryl, seated on Curved Sofa
Daryl's Office
Daryl, relaxing on Chaise Lounge
Throughout the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Stohans continued to diversify
and offered over 150 various artists works and other related product lines,
as well as the pieces created on site. The gallery evolved as a Cannery Row
landmark, drawing thousands of annual visitors and
bridging the gap on the street.
Photo Courtesy Tom Weber
THE HISTORY of STOHANS GALLERY
Stohans made constant efforts to maintain the old building
and its grounds to retain its romantic appeal and historic significance.
It was one of the last authentic cannery buildings left on the street.
Even though the property wasnot ours, we loved the old building
and worked to keep its ambiance alive.
View of San Xavier Cannery & old foundations
Daryl, cutting redwood log.
In the spring of 1997, the property was purchased by a Palo Alto
development firm. After months of negotiations with the firm’s attorneys,
Stohans was allowed to remain in business until the end of the summer
tourist season. Everything had to be liquidated and moved out by
October 31,1997. Historians fought to save the Stohans building from
demolition and were able toprove to the City of Monterey that it was
in fact,historically significant. The City ordered the building to remain,
pending historic certification
from the State.
Liquidation Sale
"Everything Must Go!"
Stohans Vacated
Gallery Entrance Barricaded
Dismantled Work Areas
Empty Gallery Interior
Stohans was forced to vacate, after 20 years as a landmark business
at 484 Cannery Row. In the ten months that followed, Stohans was able to
negotiate a lease for a new gallery location in the Monterey Plaza Hotel
complex — only a half block from the old cannery building. The grand opening on August 15, 1998 was
hailed by local merchants and old friends. The local news media announced-
"Stohans is BACK!" Stohans Gallery Now Located
In The Monterey Plaza Hotel
