AFTER MORE THAN NINE DECADES OF SUPPLYING TILE TO ICONIC STRUCTURES IN NEW YORK CITY AND BEYOND, A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY PLANTS NEW ROOTS IN RED BANK

BY JESSICA JONES GORMAN •PHOTO THIS PAGE BY ROBERT NUZZIE

When Nemo Tile was founded by the Sedrish family in 1921, the small business focused on providing quality tile for contractors and local homeowners from its Jamaica, Queens Warehouse. Expanding to Long Island, the Bronx, and the Flatiron District of Manhattan under the leadership of Maurice Karlin in the 1950s, Nemo grew at a rapid pace, moving beyond the utilitarian 4 inch square ceramic wall tile of the midcentury to, by the 1970s, large format porcelain, intricate mosaic, and glass tiles.

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Providing tile for iconic structures in Manhattan like the Holland Tunnel and the Queens Midtown Tunnel, along with numerous hotels, arenas, and residential buildings, in time the business added showrooms in Philadelphia and New England. And in 2016, after serving the needs of the tri state area for more than 90 years, it expanded once again, this time to Red Bank.
“We were looking for another location and felt that Red Bank was a perfect representation for the Nemo brand,” noted Matt Karlin (seen above), the company’s third generation president and CEO. “Its proximity to Manhattan, coupled with the beauty of this space, made it a perfect choice.”

The store, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, sells a variety of surface materials, including porcelain, ceramic, metal, glass, stone, and mosaics.

“In the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, tile was tile,” Karlin noted. “It all looked somewhat similar then, but there are so many different styles and types now, so it’s important to stay on top of trends which seem to change almost every hour,” adding that since kitchens and bathrooms are such vital selling features, homeowners should pay strict attention to choices.

“Tile and stone have become such an important and personal part of a residence,” he said. “Homeowners need to take these decisions very seriously, because tile selection could positively or negatively affect the eventual resale value. Karlin’s renovation advice?

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“Opt for large scale material that will show as little grout as possible, because it’s porous and eventually shows dirt,” he said. “Plus, bigger tiles will make a smaller space look larger, which is always a bonus.”

And always, he advised, play it safe with colors and patterns.

“This kind of work is not easily changed, so make every effort to choose a design and color scheme that have staying power. Monochromatic styles whites, grays, blues that are contemporary and cool are always a smart choice.”

All points that Nemo Tile reinforces at its Saturday morning DIY classes.
“On select mornings, we feature installers who come in to actually teach customers how to tile,” Karlin said. “It’s basically the ABC’s of installing…info that is helpful to have for a variety of reasons.”

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And Karlin hopes to build upon those types of activities in the future.

“We’re always looking for ways to make the store expand and grow,” he concluded. “We offer a range of products, from custom, super high end to reasonable items that you can find at most big box stores. That’s what has made Nemo a success for almost a hundred years and that’s what will continue to help us stand the test of time.”

Nemo Tile
21 White Street, Red Bank
732.677.1044 / nemotile.com