New owners of Tile Outlet celebrate 2nd year of business

Anna and Stelian Creta recently celebrated two years since buying Tile Outlet in the Whispering Pines business area of Grass Valley.

Since then, the Romanian immigrants and Penn Valley residents have noticed a change in their customer base that's tied directly to the continuing poor economy: More and more, homeowners are doing tile work themselves, Anna Creta said.

“Most of the people try to find friends to do the work, or if it's a small thing, do it themselves,” Anna Creta said. By cutting out the contractor, “it's a little more affordable.”

Tile Outlet still offers tile-laying services to those who want it — Stelian Creta does much of that work himself. And the Cretas still service what, during the housing boom, was the major portion the business, which is contractors.

Ceramic tile, Italian-style decorative work, granite countertops, porcelain sink-and-counter combinations, slate and travertine floor tiles, and wood and wood-laminate flooring line their small showroom and larger warehouse behind the store.

Whatever they don't carry, they can order, Anna Creta said.

They also carry supplies and some tools, and offer discounts to contractors and those buying in large quantities.

The Cretas enjoy the area's small-town atmosphere, Anna Creta said.

Anna Creta grew up in a small town in Transylvania, a province of northern Romania. She and her husband started a new life in Sacramento 11 years ago, bringing with them a 10-month-old son.

The size of California's capital “was pretty overwhelming,” she said.

A second boy was born, and the family moved to Nevada County six years ago. Anna got involved in her two sons' schools in Penn Valley. At first, her sons' friends were puzzled by her accent, she said.

“Then I told them I had been in Dracula's castle, and they thought that was cool,” Anna Creta said with a smile.

Meanwhile, Stelian worked on tile-setting jobs for then corporate-owned Tile Outlet.

“That's how we were able to buy the business,” she said.

Two years ago, the corporation sold all its franchises — and the Cretas jumped at the chance to run their own shop. They celebrated their anniversary on Nov. 1, Anna Creta said.