Our History
John Huarte, Founder and CEO, graduated from Notre Dame University and was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 1964 as quarterback of the Fighting Irish. After spending several years as a professional football player, John and his wife, Eileen, opened a small tile store in San Diego in 1977. The company has since grown to include more than twenty-five locations in seven western states, with products distributed to both residential and commercial customers.
Since 1977, Arizona Tile has searched the globe in pursuit of truly extraordinary surfaces. Through relationships with select quarries and suppliers, Arizona Tile proudly offers a vast selection of granite, travertine, onyx, slate, marble and limestone, including stunning tile and stone you won't find anywhere else on Earth. Our treasure of surfaces also includes beautiful and unique medallions, porcelain, tile and other design creations and applications that bring drama and enchantment to any space.
To experience first-hand surfaces that are truly extraordinary, you need only travel as far as one of our engaging showroooms. There you will personally discover stunning surfaces you won't find anywhere else on Earth, and make their unparalleled magic a part of your world.
Since we have been in the stone and tile business for over 30 years, we frequently are approached by quarries and factories to review new product options. We also continuously travel the world to find new product colors and ideas to offer our customers.
This has led to our importing of more than 230 varieties of granite, marble, limestone, travertine, slate and onyx slabs and tile, making us one of the largest independently-owned importers of stone in the United States. Not only do we stock over 40 series of porcelain and glass tile, our relationships with manufacturers allow us to develop new porcelain and glass tile lines that are only available at Arizona Tile.
Arizona Tile is recognized as an international purchasing power, successfully marketing and stocking an unparalleled inventory, thereby allowing us to provide exceptional service to our customers. In addition, commercial developers, designers and architects look to Arizona Tile as a resource for technical information and specification assistance. For customers, Arizona Tile is the experience we create while taking them through the selection process. Designers, builders and developers entrust their clients to us, which is why our showrooms are comfortable, yet expansive, design-driven meeting places, serviced by knowledgeable, experienced professionals.
Every bundle of stone we purchase must pass a detailed inspection before it is shipped to Arizona Tile and ultimately, our customers. Our inspectors examine for color value, cracks, thickness, product integrity, surface markings, slab size and quality of the polish, to name just a few.
Our porcelain tile products undergo a rigid quality control process including both automated and human inspection, utilizing the most advanced technologies available in the market today. We also inspect every container shipment we receive to make sure the quality you expect is realized on a consistent basis.
To maintain the Arizona Tile quality standard, we have established a network of overseas offices in Italy, Brazil, China and the Czech Republic. They are staffed by experts in the porcelain tile and stone markets and are responsible for new product development, quality control and shipping.
Our years of experience in the international market allow us to select only the top suppliers with which to work. Our suppliers must adhere to the same ethics and quality standards we expect from ourselves.