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Crowd waits hours for tile giveaway
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TILE ENTHUSIASTS: Dozens of people stand outside a vacant tile store on Mahoning Avenue. The old Wall Tile Co. hasn’t served customers in more than a year and the building’s landlord treated more than 100 people to the tile and supply contents of the building free of charge Wednesday.
More than 100 people lined up outside the old Wall Tile Co. to haul away leftover inventory.
By Rick Rouan
YOUNGSTOWN — The two women who planted themselves in camp chairs beneath a rainbow umbrella outside the old Wall Tile Co. were on a mission: get tile for their home projects at the best price possible.
Wednesday, that price was “free.”
Petrarca Companies, the former landlord for Wall Tile, let area tile seekers haul off the leftover inventory after the business owner disappeared last year without paying rent. More than 100 people — some from as far as Cleveland — wrapped around the building, 2432 Mahoning Ave., waiting to empty the building.
“We camped out front until they opened the doors,” said Sarah Rowe, of Warren, who sat with her fellow soccer mom Lisa Carnahan, of Boardman.
The crowd was a stark sign of the downturn economy, Carna-han said.
“In this economy, I think everybody is looking for a good deal,” she said.
An off-duty sheriff’s deputy, who was hired by the owner, allowed handfuls of people through the front door to pick out whatever they could carry before exiting through a back door. People sifted through the mess, avoiding broken glass and struggling to lift heavy boxes, while others saw their dolly tires go flat from the extra weight.
“Everyone was pretty ruly. I was pretty surprised by that,” said Rowe, who was looking for tile and supplies to renovate her bathroom and kitchen. “The agitated crowd left early.”
The crowd had time to simmer as several people arrived as early as 8:30 a.m. Vindicator information said the giveaway was to run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, but a sign on the door told customers that it would begin at noon and end at 6 p.m.
The tile selection was vast, stretching across the building and to the ceiling in some spots, but much of it was vintage and some of it was broken.
“You’re looking for the new, modern stuff. ...I don’t see any,” said Ben Porter of Girard.
The giveaway brought do-it-yourselfers and contractors from near and far, including one woman from the Cleveland area.
“Problem is, I can’t carry out as much as I need,” said Kelly Ali, of Richmond Heights, northeast of Cleveland.
Earl Parshay, a Boardman contractor, was looking for material he could use for work. Parshay runs his own contracting business, Parshay Perfect.
“I’m going to get as much as I can,” Parshay said. “A lot of people want to get things done. ...I think it motivates people to do projects.”
The giveaway created traffic jams and blocked driveways for residents of Manchester Avenue, the street that dead ends into Mahoning Avenue at the site of the former business.
For Rowe and Carnahan, the two women who sat first in line, their hauls of free tile were polar opposites. Rowe emptied a cart full of white tile into the back of her sport-utility vehicle while Carnahan escaped with just a few items.
“I’m going to take what I can and see if it works,” Carnahan said.
rrouan@vindy.com