Making over spaces while adapting to the times
The owners of BK Tile and Stone, a fixture on Federal Street in Greenfield for the last 12 years, have transformed commercial businesses and residences with their installation of tile and stone products. Over the span of their careers, they have similarly seen their business transform as they adapted to changes in the economy and the pandemic, and as they navigate being a Black-owned business in Franklin County.
BK Tile and Stone is owned by husband-and-wife team Billy and Kelly Whitaker. Billy has a deep background in managing the installation of commercial tile and marble and CEO Kelly manages the storefront, guiding clients through the process of choosing materials and remaking their space.
The two have a combined 40 years’ experience as design and installation professionals and their sunny downtown showroom carries an impressive array of tile, natural stone, glass, and handmade ceramics. “I love the creative part of this work,” she said. “I have a love of design, and I love to work with people!”
We spoke to Kelly during Black History Month and asked how she and Billy, as two of the only Black business owners in Greenfield, were doing.
Kelly said she’s lived all over the U.S. and travelled to many states and has been surprised to have experienced the most racism right here in Massachusetts. Her children experienced repeated racially motivated attacks in Franklin County schools. In addition, tile distributors who she knows ask her why they see her white neighbors shop for tile elsewhere and not in her store. She doesn’t have an answer. That said, “Customers and clients who want to work with us do,” she offered. “Since 2013, it’s all been word of mouth. I think there are good people in the area. That’s what keeps me going.”
When they moved to New England in 2005, Billy and Kelly at first built a multi-million-dollar commercial tile installation company with 30 employees, tackling massive jobs in malls, casinos, and national franchise locations. However, the Great Recession, and the lack of access to capital that followed, shut them down.
It was the spring of 2007, and they had roughly $1 million in contracts when, “the phone stopped ringing,” said Kelly. By August, “we had to close.”
The two were friendly with the owner of All Around Tile, which used to be located on the Mohawk Trail in Shelburne, and were interested in buying the store. A deal fell through, however when the Greenfield location opened up in 2013, Billy and Kelly jumped on it, and began a new chapter of the business, doing residential remodels.
In 2018, Kelly was surprised to get a call from an MGM representative in Las Vegas, inviting her business to bid for the tiling of the Springfield casino. She and her husband secured the $3 million bid, however had to provide a letter from a financial institution saying the business could be bonded for $500,000. She was not able to secure a letter after meeting with several banks and the FCCDC. While she currently has a great relationship with local banks and the FCCDC, at the time, she found the circumstance disappointing and frustrating.
In 2020, as COVID began, the two had to adapt yet again. Business sank and they received a short term loan and line of credit from Greenfield Savings Bank. In addition, they received a COVID loan and grant from the Franklin County CDC and the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, now MassDevelopment. “That helped us survive,” she said.
They made it to 2021, when suddenly, everyone was ready to remodel their home. “It was insanely busy,” Kelly said.
BK Tile and Stone is now branching out again, back into the commercial tiling world. They recently inked contracts with a mall in Cambridge and a national retail store in Boston. A loan from the Franklin County CDC is helping them prepare for this work.
“We’re still here,” she said, smiling.
