Yardbird Furniture

The new homegrown outdoor furniture brand creates pieces built to withstand Minnesota winters

An outdoor furniture set consisting of two chairs, a sofa and coffee table by Yardbird Furniture.
Outdoor furniture set by Yardbird Furniture

photo by tj turner


Yardbird furniture specializes in high-quality outdoor furniture at an affordable price, which it sells at its new St. Louis Park showroom and online. 

Yardbird was founded last year by the father-son team of Bob and Jay Dillon, who blend Bob’s decades of experience as an importer of high-end European home goods with Jay’s background in product development and sourcing. Eight years ago when Bob began to source outdoor furniture, he stumbled upon an untapped market. “We realized that everybody really liked the Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware look for outdoor furniture,” says Jay. “But for five grand, those products weren’t realistic for most buyers.”

Because the company sells directly to customers, it’s able to keep prices low. Jay says Yardbird’s pieces are better quality than their mass-market counterparts while ranging from $1,199 to $3,100 for a set. “The furniture industry artificially marks up their goods, and then offers sales constantly,” says Bob. “Our everyday low prices are still roughly half of what our competitors’ sale prices are.” 

The showroom offers shoppers the opportunity to bring in their floor plan to find the right set, and to shop a selection of indoor-outdoor rugs and patio accessories. Unlike most outdoor furniture, which can take three to six weeks for delivery, customers can receive their new set the same or next day of purchase. 

Available in eight different collections—each named after a lake in Minnesota—Yardbird Furniture is made from handwoven resin wicker, the most popular option for high-end outdoor furniture due to its durability, and a rust-resistant steel or aluminum frame. Each piece of Yardbird features cushions covered with mildew- and stain-resistant upholstery, including Sunbrella, the standard-bearer of high-end furniture textiles. “It’s definitely built to withstand a Minnesota winter,” says Jay. • 6501 Cambridge St., St. Louis Park, 612-309-7465, yardbirdfurniture.com