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KTS BLOG |
What's New at Kate-Lo Tile and Stone
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Kate-Lo Tile & Stone celebrates its 35th anniversary
A new year is a time of reflection and renewal. It is a time when we fondly remember the past and look forward to the days ahead. 2009 is especially sentimental for Kate-Lo Tile & Stone as we embark on our 35th anniversary.
In 1964, Kate-Lo was formed as a Minnesota corporation by a group of private investors in the construction industry. The name Kate-Lo came from combining the first names of two partners wives, Kathleen (Kate) and Lois. Within a year, Bill LeVahn joined Kate-Lo, with the intention to import and sell Japanese ceramic tile to distributors. Operations moved to Bill's home in Robbinsdale, MN, where it would remain until 1974. During this time, distribution was increased from three states to twenty. Kate-Lo Minnesota was incorporated in 1974 with 13 employees to distribute tile and related products locally. They moved their warehouse and corporate headquarters to Brooklyn Park that same year. The emphasis was placed on providing beautiful showrooms and large stocking inventories for the local construction industry. In the coming years, they would expand their operations to include showrooms throughout the Twin Cities Metro. The employees bought out the original investors with an employee stock ownership plan in 1987. Four years later, Olympia Tile, one of the largest tile distributors in North America, purchased Kate-Lo from the employees. This was a fantastic opportunity for Kate-Lo to expand not only its product line, but also its reputation in the U.S. market. In the last decade, we have opened new branches in Des Moines, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska. We continue to have several showrooms in the Metro, including Plymouth, Burnsville and Oakdale including an Outlet Center located in our Headquarters in Plymouth. During the past 35 years, we have seen many changes. The sheer scope and breadth of tile that is available from around the world has changed dramatically, due to ever-evolving technologies in the tile industry. There have been times when we have seen economic downturns to booming construction business. It has been an honor to be a respected leader in our industry and to be a key service partner for our clients. Here's looking to the next 35 years. Labels: anniversary, ceramic tile, kate lo, kate-lo, katelo, stone ¶ 4:13 PM Links to this post 
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About Me
Kate-Lo Tile & Stone is the leading wholesale tile and stone distributor in the Upper Midwest. Servicing contractors, dealers and their customers is our emphasis by providing one of the largest stocking inventories and design assistance in the Metro. Kate-Lo Tile & Stone specializes in import porcelain, ceramic, stone and glass tile, as well as in-floor heating systems and unique accessories from around the world. Our showrooms provide a comfortable environment for your customer to make their selections. Archives
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Plymouth, MN: (763) 450-3636 * Burnsville, MN: (952) 890-4324 * Oakdale, MN: (651) 730-1975 * Des Moines, IA: (515) 270-4920 * Omaha, NE: (402) 614-9010 Outlet Center - Plymouth, MN: (763) 417-3807 * Minnesota Headquarters: (763) 545-5455 Copyright © 2009 Kate-Lo Tile & Stone |
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