Quick Words:

Universal-Tile-Rudzinski

Full Text:

w/photo: Seeking Harmony In Business And Arts

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Jan Rudzinski speaks like an artist. Whether he is talking about tile and

marble or discussing the opera, his artistic qualities show.

Co-owner of Universal Tile & Marble in Newtown, a business which opened this

month on Route 25 in Newtown, Mr Rudzinski also is an opera singer who has

performed many times at the Schubert in New Haven and in Europe.

A Polish refugee, he came to the United States in 1987 and has spent the years

since then learning the langugage and pursuing his two careers.

"I have an arts feeling which I bring to my design," he said in accented

English, sometimes stopping to search for the right word. "I like working with

marble, for example. When you touch marble, it is like you are talking to the

stone. And when you talk to it, it understands you and the job is much better

done."

"It's like how, in some houses, flowers grow and in some houses they don't,"

he said.

Born and educated in Poland, he fled the country's military regime in 1982 and

crossed the border into Germany where he lived for the next five years. He

spent two years trying to immigrate to the United States before moving here

eight years ago and settling in Connecticut.

"I went to English language school for the next eight months," he said, "but I

have spent years building my connections with contractors, distributors and

designers."

He finally started his own business, Ja-Ha Tile & Marble, from his home in

Shelton. One of his first major clients was the seven-store chain of

Parfumerie Douglas, for which he has done many projects from marble floor

installation to storefront decoration.

"I was looking for a place to have my own store when I heard about this

location in Newtown," he said. "The former owners had closed, and it was

available. We are an entirely new business.

Trained in tile and stone work in Poland, he simultaneously attended music

school on a scholarship in the evening, learning from one of the top teachers

in Poland. While still in the country he sang with the well-known ensemble

Mazowsze. A baritone, he sang in operas in Germany and has appeared at the

Shubert in six operas including Madam Butterfly, Carmen and Rigoletto.

At Universal Tile & Marble, he and co-owner Alice Borges of Monroe offer a

large selection of tile and stone from around the world.

"We have tile from England, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Welsh

quarry tile, Greek stone and, of course, a lot of domestic (American)

product," Ms Borges said. "We have everything from delicate backsplash tiles

to terra cotta and quarry tiles and marble."

The store stocks exclusive lines of decorative tile borders and roping, unique

three-dimensional lines, handpainted tiles and custom orders. Both estimates

and professional design assistance are available at no additional cost.

"We want our customers to feel very good about their choices," Ms Borges said.

"We will send tiles home with our customers or come to their houses to help

them with design and color selections."

The store stocks more than 30 different colors of marble used for flooring,

counter tops and fireplace facings. It is open 9 am to 6 pm Monday through

Friday, 9 to 3 on Saturday, or by appointment. The telephone number is

270-8309.

A grand opening will be held on Saturday, January 20 from 9 to 3 pm. As part

of the grand opening celebration, prices will be reduced by 10 to 15 percent

off everything in the store.