At Home with RYE RIDGE TILE

There are more than a few reasons why tile-loving homeowners, interior designers, and architects have headed to Port Chester the last 42 years. Rye Ridge Tile Home Collections at 520 N. Main Street carries exquisite state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor tiles and its customer service is second to none, not to mention the central location and ample parking.

By Janice Llanes Fabry

“We’ve always had a winning team here,” said owner Roger Dean.

That Roger sets the tone for the entire operation comes of no surprise. He had exemplary role models in Rye Ridge Tile’s original owners, his father Keith Dean and partner Luke Colombo, both of whom opened the store in 1973. Longtime residents will remember them, now deceased, from the shop’s original location underneath the old bowling alley on S. Ridge Street.

“Luke was very charismatic and I learned a lot of the business side from him,” said Roger, who worked there as a student during time off from school. “He also made everyone feel important. Anyone could come to him with anything, from tile questions to personal problems. He was a real giver and a genuine person.”

Roger, who worked the morning of his wedding day, definitely acquired his strong work ethic from his father. “Dad, who served in both the Royal Army and the US Army, was an incredible organizer, always structured,” he said. “Luke would call him a bus driver because he was always on time.”

Although Roger graduated with a teaching degree, he decided to go into the family business and Colombo took him on as a partner. Since 1987, Roger has been commuting to Port Chester from Danbury, Connecticut, where he still resides with his wife Kathy and their two children Cory, 21, and Rachel, 19. For 21 of those years, Roger’s brother and partner David also worked alongside him. Two years ago, however, David moved to Myrtle Beach with his wife Cindy and son Cameron to be closer to their mother Pat.

“I love what I do and I’m blessed to have people, who work here that are in it to give the best customer service, people who live it,” noted Roger about the current staff at Rye Ridge Tile.

In 2,000, he bought the current site on Main Street and started building two years later. In 2004, the 16,000 square-foot facility opened with two floors that included resplendent, spacious showroom and warehouse. You can also check this website for office space
“Since day one working in my father’s company, I knew I wanted us to own a building. I took over most of the accounting and saw how much was going to the landlord,” recalled Roger about his bookkeeping days. “Having our own facility became one of my top priorities from when I signed that first rent check.”

It just so happens that new expansion plans and major changes are currently underway. Company offices will relocate to a newly constructed mezzanine to make additional space in the second floor showroom for their current kitchen dealer Integral Renovation Projects, which specializes in Italian custom kitchens, faucets, vanities and custom closets.

“I envision our 16,000 square-foot facility as usable space. Our entire building will be streamlined, which will change the way you shop,” noted Roger. “Our near-future goal is to be able to have information to trade electronically within minutes of a phone call or appointment.”

Although it’s rare to catch sight of the owner on the sales floor these days, he admitted, “I still feel like I could assist clients in creating spaces that are a part of their vision and lifestyle. I do miss working with some of the great people that supported our company for the past 20 years. Some of my most cherished friendships have begun on the sales floor.”

As a matter of fact, Roger’s General Manager Dawn Coletti was a customer herself before she started working in their accounting department 13 years ago. Another staple at Rye Ridge Tile is senior designer Nan Keedy, who has worked there for 18 years.

And they’ve had return customers for longer than that. Dawn remarked, “I feel our clients are so loyal because we offer so much more than great service and products. We have an outstanding reputation, we cherish our customers, and we have built incredible relationships which doesn’t happen over night.”

Rye Ridge has an outstanding selection of porcelain, ceramic, glass, stone, hand painted, and custom made tiles, as well as wood flooring, from 154 vendors. They also sell vanities and other bathroom accessories. In addition, the warehouse carries all the supplies tile contractors need, from Thinsets and grouts to tools and sealers.

What’s new in tiles these days? Bigger formats, as in 24” x 24” or 18” x 36” tiles. Even the traditional 3” x 6” subway tiles have been replaced by larger 4” x 8” and 4” x 12” tiles. Designers and homeowners are preferring more modern, contemporary, and transitional looks. Instead of utilizing bullnose tiles for edges, no borders or metal edges is the way to go.

Of course, Rye Ridge will always carry traditional merchandise, but trends lean towards bolder patterns and colors.Also big this year are gray, pewter, and chocolate. Available is a magnificent array of mosaic, fabric-like, and combined glass/stone tiles, as well as different shapes and wavy textures.

Roger is confident about his product and about having “the right people in place.” These days he has more time to continue fostering relationships. He said, “I believe in putting people first and that goes for customers and the people I work with.”

Having cultivated a family atmosphere through and through, Rye Ridge Tile Home Collections has sponsored the annual Joseph M. Piro Jr. Golf Classic for the last six years for one of their beloved tile setters, who was killed in a car accident at 26. The charity benefits the Greenwich Old Timers Foundation and proceeds go to funding student academic and athletic scholarships. For more information on the next golf outing on September 21, visit jmpjrfoundation.com.

For your tile needs at Rye Ridge Tile Home Collection, call 939-1100 or stop by the showroom.

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