Don't Take Stone for Granite: Premium stone straight from the experts
In 1999, Johnny Altobello, Jr. and his wife Carolyn prayed for a sign from heaven before deciding whether or not to open what would become the oldest and largest importer and wholesaler of first quality natural stone in the Gulf South. “The sign actually came through my son Chris,” reports Altobello. “He was the last student in his class to choose a patron saint for a religion project, and the only one left was St. Clement of Rome, the patron saint of marble workers.”
Although the sign that got things moving may have been from above, early going for the company was anything but heavenly. Altobello explains, “During our first year in business, I was the only employee when we first opened at a small yard on Airline Highway. All I had to run the business with was a used cordless phone and a used fork lift. I paid myself barely enough for my family to live on and spent any profits on buying more colors of stone.” At first, the fledgling company possessed only ten colors of stone, all three quarters of an inch thick. Today, The Stone Gallery, located in Elmwood at 5600 Mounes, boasts an inventory of more than 100 colors of premium natural stone including marble, granite, limestone, travertine and onyx. All are available in two thicknesses. In addition, the Stone Gallery opts to sell only the highest quality rock, called premium, as opposed to lesser standard or commercial grades. “I want to handle the best material, not the cheapest,” Altobello explains. “Buying natural stone is not unlike any other purchase; you get what you pay for.”
Customers are often confused about the difference between premium natural stone and man-made materials which are available at the nearest home improvement store. According to Altobello, man-made products are less durable than natural stone. “Man has never created anything better than nature has,” he adds.
The sales staff of this family-operated business represents more than 50 years of combined stone experience. They all pride themselves on treating customers with dignity and respect. “Our job is to buy rock and sell rock. It’s pretty simple. But we also want to educate our customers on how to choose the best stone for their projects, and how to care for their stone,” Altobello states.
The company works in one of two ways. First, stone fabrication shops, tile companies, designers, contractors and architects from around southeast Louisiana and Mississippi send customers to The Stone Gallery showroom and yard to choose the colors for their project. Second, the general public, as they plan to build or remodel their homes or businesses may visit the property themselves, in which case the staff can give them a tour of the colors and recommend a stone fabricator to purchase and install the slabs. No appointment is necessary to visit the Stone Gallery. Altobello, who receives no fee from the fabricators he recommends, will only suggest companies with whom he has built a trust. “Our customers can rest assured that the companies we suggest to install their stone are of the utmost quality,” asserts Altobello. “I only recommend people I would let work in my own house.”
Before viewing the stone slabs, however, the customer can browse the selection of samples in the showroom. This is followed by a “golf cart tour” through the rows of massive slabs on the acre-sized Stone Gallery property. With hundreds of granite, limestone and travertine slabs eight rows deep in every color imaginable, this outdoor showroom is a stone lovers’ dream. In iridescent blues, deep reds, brilliant whites and even vivid oranges, the stone slabs are a must-see for those who are used to choosing materials from a tile palette.
The Stone Gallery is so respected, in fact, that Altobello is the official “stone expert” for radio and TV personality Michael King, also known as “the Cajun Contractor” on his local and nationally syndicated shows. The company is also the area distributor for VIC International Stone Tools and Supplies, Akemi and Bellinzoni stone care products. Local customers who already have stone in their homes or businesses may purchase polishes, cleaners and sealants directly from the showroom in Elmwood.
The beauty and durability of the stones available at The Stone Gallery are what make them unique, and at the same time, practical. “The useful life of natural stone is forever,” stresses Altobello. “Once installed, and if properly cared for, the stone will outlast all of us.” It may seem unbelievable, but the premium granite now available was once igneous rock. Through extreme heat and pressure, it was boiled and compressed over the course of eons. Travertine is also a geological marvel; it is simply the compression of sand over millions of years. “Our stones are between 20 million and one billion years old,” emphasizes Altobello.
The strength of premium granite is not its only attribute, however. Altobello explains, “Granite is antimicrobial and antibacterial. Nothing will grow in granite, and it actually retains less bacteria than stainless steel. The minerals in granite do not allow bacteria to grow, but are completely harmless to humans.”
If all of this seems overwhelming, fear not. Altobello and the Stone Gallery staff understand completely. “If we’ve confused you by having so many color options, we’ve done our job,” Altobello laughs. But potential customers should not think they will leave knowing no more than they did when entering the showroom. “Educating our clients is paramount,” he continues. “The goal is to go above and beyond choosing stones based on a small array of tile samples. We welcome the opportunity to take our customers onto our property and look at the huge slabs in our inventory. That’s really the only way it should be done.” After all, he chuckles, “When I was a child, I had a small rock collection. Now I have a big rock collection, but this one I want everyone to see.” ✦
The Stone Gallery
5600 Mounes St.
Harahan, LA
504.733.5566
888.98.STONE toll free
www.thestonegallery.com
