Business & Tech

Coronavirus: Watertown Tile Business Hopes To Bounce Back

As restrictions begin to lift, Joe LaFauci hopes business will bounce back enough for his staff to return to the showroom.

WATERTOWN, MA — Joe LaFauci was looking forward to celebrating his business' ten-year anniversary. LaFauci Tile and Marble, located at 432 Main Street in Watertown, is one of the few businesses that stayed open throughout the pandemic. As restrictions on businesses begin to lift, LaFauci said he hopes business picks up as well.

When the coronavirus pandemic started to gain major attention in March, LaFauci said he sat down with his four employees and had the tough conversation about staying open, employee safety and health and whether they felt comfortable staying on in the shop.

"I gave them a choice and told them if they didn't feel safe or comfortable, they would always have a job waiting here for them once things were safer," LaFauci said. Two of his four employees decided it was safer for their health to stay home.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Down to half his staff, LaFauci said they pushed forward, taking appointments and maintaining the projects that were already in progress before the pandemic hit.

"We're fortunate that we didn't have to lay off anyone on our installation crew," LaFauci said, adding that most of the work in Boston and Waltham has allowed for crews to work while social distancing.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Because most businesses in the neighborhood are closed and the storefront can only accept business by appointment, LaFauci said business has decreased by about 50 percent. Usually, his crews would have two to four appointments a day, but now they're getting one to two.

LaFauci applied for small business loans and considers his business one of the lucky ones — they secured some funding in the second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans.

"It's challenging and frustrating, but it's not just money, we're dealing with people's lives here," LaFauci said.

But this isn't the first time LaFauci's business has seen tough economic times. LaFauci said he and his family opened the business at the tail end of the recession.

"People thought we were crazy, but we got through that," LaFauci said.

As restrictions open up, he said the focus has been making sure customers are comfortable and safe as work continues.

"We're trying to accommodate everyone and make this as safe as possible," LaFauci said, "There's a light at the end of the tunnel."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Watertown