By Anubhav Tagore
If you've been to the casinos, you've probably seen their work.
"Most of the stone in the buildings in downtown -- B&B put it in," said Quintin Hardtner, owner of B&B Cut Stone Co.
Horseshoe, Eldorado, Sam's Town (at the time, it was Harrah's) and other buildings have a lot of B&B material in them, he said.
B&B Cut Stone supplies the architectural profession, the construction industry and the residential contractor or owner with limestone, granite and marble products. Hardtner bought the 78-year-old business in 1999.
The company then had 18 to 20 employees. Today, there are 30 on-staff employees. Since the company subcontracts most of its work, B&B indirectly employs another 25 to 30 people.
The growth has come by going after bigger business. "About three years ago, we decided to really go after the wholesale market, the higher volume market," Hardtner said.
The result: From doing two to three assignments a week, the company today does 40 a week. B&B also invested about $1 million in new technology and equipment.
"The trend in our industry is ultimately going to be wholesaling to them," Hardtner said.
B&B is rolling out a new company called Stone America, which will distribute and install granite countertops nationally (120 locations) in partnership with a company in Houston that will be doing the production.
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