Celebrating 60 years of serving Taos County

On June 9, 1961, Bob and Martha Vargas opened the Vargas Paint Pot near the Taos Plaza and on that fateful day the Vargas + Taos destiny was born.

Today the store looks a bit different than it did when the ambitious young couple started out with a small inventory purchased with $700 they borrowed. Over the years the store evolved and adapted with the times and by the early ’90s, the Vargas Tile Company was firmly established as the go-to tile experts in Taos County.

Bob and Martha not only ran a successful business, but they also raised four children. Their son, Arthur, would become an attorney, and the three daughters eventually replaced their hard-working parents in the operation. The siblings have spent their lives in Taos and sisters Christine, Patricia and Viviana run the store today on the values instilled by their parents:

Greet every customer and give them good service.

Open the hours you have posted. Have a well-stocked store. Know your products.

If you do not know the answers to every question, find out.

Be courteous.

Keep a clean, attractive store. ‘Service Above Self’

The work ethic instilled in them since childhood leaves little doubt as to the reasons behind the success of Vargas Tile Company today. The sisters are close and all have their specific role in the business. The family-friendly vibe is immediately felt when entering the bright, well-stocked store.

Throughout its 60-year history, the core value that rises above all others at Vargas Tile Company is the conviction that service comes first. According to Patricia, “From the smallest to the largest jobs, every customer is appreciated and treated with respect.”

Customers are diverse – some are contractors who are building or refurbishing a home and others are individuals who want to enhance a bathroom or give their kitchen a new look. A quick glance across the showroom gives even the novel consumer the sense that there will be many choices and diverse options.

Vargas Tile’s primary inventory is Mexican tile and the sisters maintain a rich inventory of brightly colored patterns and vibrant solid colors. The tiles are available in every shape and size.

Displays showcase the many ways the tile can be configured with eyecatching options to create images of fruit, wine, farm scenes, landscapes and murals – limited only by one’s imagination. To conclude that the showroom is impressive is an understatement.

Tile work has been used for centuries and it gives spaces and an Old World yet contemporary feel. The sisters make sure the warehouse is always stocked with Saltillo tile in assorted sizes. This popular tile is known as ‘perfectly imperfect’ because it is made from handcrafted clay that is only found in the Mexican city of Saltillo, Coahuila.

Design services are part of the package

Where there is tile, there is grout and thinset (mortar). Christine ensures customers have everything required for their tile project – including sealers, tools, spacers and in many cases, design expertise.

Customers have learned to rely on the company for design assistance for everything from the smallest bathroom to tiling staircases and casitas. Beautiful handcrafted mirrors adorn the walls and are for sale along with intricate clay pots from Mexico.

The sisters’ gratitude for the community resonates throughout the showroom. The store has weathered the pandemic storm well and Viviana shared the news about what’s coming.

“We are planning an open house 60 years to the day that our parents opened the doors. We invite the public to come in on June 9 and browse our showroom. We will be having storewide specials, drawings for gift certificates and refreshments.”