Struthers-based tile center works to remain competitive

By Kalea Hall

khall@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

Sporting his Your Tile Center shirt, Joseph Angelilli Sr. watches his son, Mike, help his employee to perfectly cut a large piece of granite in the Fifth Street warehouse of Your Tile Center.

He is happy to see his children, three sons and a daughter-in-law, take over the business he started nearly 50 years ago, but he still cannot seem to leave, and he is still the president.

“I do a lot of running around for us,” Joseph said.

Joseph immigrated to the area from Italy when he was 17 and then later on settled in Struthers. He wanted to be bricklayer, but realized you couldn’t work year-round with the Ohio weather, so he chose the floor-installation route.

He began his career in the tile industry working at E.A. Matiusi and Sons on Albert Street in Youngstown. There he learned the tricks of the trade of installing tile, which is difficult, labor-intensive work.

Before too long, Joseph started his own business in the city where he settled, and called it Your Tile Center.

“He has been saying he is going to retire for 10 years,” Mike said.

Mike and his brothers, Joe and Mark, all had an interest in joining the business, and they had a readily available teacher, their dad.

“I like dealing with people, and I am not so much a desk person,” Mike said. “It just kind of happened. I went to college for a short time and ventured into the company.”

For years, the company has primarily installed linoleum, carpet and tile for businesses and houses and continually learned about the new products to stay in competition with the big-box stores that allow people to install their own floor.

Years ago, life was different for the Angelillis. They saw business from people who needed a new floor and had no other option but to go to the nearest tile and floor center.

“Today, you can go buy a gallon of milk and a floor,” Mike said. “I think we can win them over with our service.”

There seems to be no need for a showroom, but the Angelillis still offer their customers a chance to look at the variety of products out there.

Your Tile Center offers dozens of products to stay on top of the competition.

In addition to the floor installation offered at Your Tile Center, the Angelillis added a second part to the business known as Roman Empire Granite and Marble. They also offer total bathroom and kitchen remodeling.

“We are like a one-stop shop from the floor to the countertop,” Mike said.

The additional services offered have enabled the Angelillis to grow their Struthers business.

The business reaches beyond the Mahoning Valley to Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

“We do a lot of commercial work for schools and hospitals, and we do residential work,” Mike said.

The Angelillis recognize that their business is not in the best location for walk-in traffic, but right now, it works for them. People know them and they know their work, which is why Mike believes they have remained in business for as long as they have.

“We remain competitive through quality work,” Mike said. “We take care of our customers.”

To remain competitive, the Angelillis must find skilled tradesmen, which can be difficult today. The amount of workers the Angelillis hire depends on how many jobs they have at the time.

“The old trade is not what it used to be,” he said. “Today, everyone tells their kids to go to college.”