Arizona Tile 40th Anniversary

Arizona Tile is celebrating our 40th anniversary—four decades of success that we owe to our loyal customers, hardworking employees, and the vision of Arizona Tile Founder John Huarte.

In 1977, after 10 years of playing football, Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte decided to focus his leadership skills on a new business endeavor. He took a leap and signed a lease on the back of a cardboard box, opening the first Arizona Tile location in San Diego, California.

Now, forty years later, Arizona Tile has become one of the leading tile and slab distributors in the U.S. We have hundreds of employees, nearly half of whom have been with the company for over a decade, and many of whom have been a part of our company from the start. We’re proud of our unparalleled customer services and tile product offerings from around the world. President Bob Traxler says, “Our success solely comes from the vision that John and [his wife] Eileen Huarte had for this company when starting it—the sensibility that our relationships with our customers and our fellow employees are the most important aspect of what we do.”

Keeping true to that vision, Arizona Tile continues to provide a uniquely positive experience for every customer. We give customers the ideas and information they need to move forward with their projects—whether they’re working on a large commercial job or simply adding a small tile accent to their home.

Originally a ceramic tile supplier, Arizona Tile evolved to accommodate the changing needs of our customers. In 1993, we introduced slab materials to our inventory, available in 12 colors. At the start of 2017, we now offer over 235 slab varieties as well as natural stone, porcelain, glass, and mosaic tile products that you won’t find anywhere else on Earth.

We owe much of the company’s success to our incredible employees, whose dedication has helped set us apart in the industry. According to Founder John Huarte, “There’s a sports element to our teamwork. People aren’t perfect, and they’re going to make mistakes, but you have to learn from them. And I think without ever even talking about it, from my examination, [the company] has naturally followed that sports culture.” Also, as Eileen Huarte recalls, John’s hardworking disposition has had a significant impact on how our employees work well together. “John’s always been an extremely humble man,” she says. “And when he was in leadership [at Arizona Tile] that meant that there was no such thing as a closed door. He was accessible, and he was willing to do anything… And I think that everyone else around him picked up on his energy.”