After 40 years in the flooring business, Jimmy Lanzetta finally has a place to call his own.
The Morris Park business owner has lived in Morris Park for 25 years, working for another floor store there — until the store closed and the opportunity presented itself for him to open his own store and become his own boss.
Lanzetta said he was tired of working for other people and wanted to work for himself.
Before ownership was taken over by Lanzetta, the store was known in the neighborhood as Morris Park Floor Covering.
The new store, Morris Park Flooring, at 1008 Morris Park Ave., sells everything from laminate, hard wood, and carpet to window treatments and blinds, said Lanzetta.
Lanzetta is devoting his time and business acumen to his store, working there daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
“I started working here, when it was owned by another fellow I was working with and about two years ago, he decided to close down,” Lanzetta said. “That’s when I decided: ‘I am 60 years old, and it’s time to open my own place.’ So he closed in November and by January of this year, I was open.”
“Customers just need to come in and take a look for themselves,” he said. “Our prices will floor you.”
Lanzetta said since there are no other retail flooring stores in area, he thinks it is a perfect location.
“There are a lot of corner stores and nail salons, but there is nothing like this around here,” he said. “I think we should keep business in the neighborhood. If people are looking for flooring, they should be able to have somewhere in Morris Park they can go to. I’ve lived in the area for a long time, so I like to see people staying here for what they need.”
Lanzetta said that as of right now it is just him working in the store, along with two installers.
“The guys I deal with are great,” he said. “They do beautiful work, and they are very professional. I want their work to reflect me as a business owner. When I walk down the street, I want people to say hello to me and know what I do and who I am, I don’t want to have to hide my face.”
Lanzetta said he is excited about the new store and the new opportunity.
“I really think this will be a great fit in the neighborhood,” Lanzetta said. “People just need to come in and see what I’ve got to offer, I think they will be impressed.”
Kirsten Sanchez can be reach via e-mail at ksanchez@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3394
