Abbey Humble Carpet and Tile owner Charlie Crabtree said he planned to spend the week after Hurricane Harvey helping family members, friends and customers who were affected by flooding.
Following the hurricane, which hit the Houston area in late August, Crabtree said he would only begin charging customers for their carpeting, flooring, tile and countertop repairs after Labor Day. He said he wanted to give back to the local community that has supported his business for more than 35 years.
“My thoughts are that [the work] comes first,” he said. “We probably could be open trying to sell something right now, but this city has been good to me for 30-something years, so right now I’ve got all my employees trying to help people.”
Crabtree said customers affected by the flooding would receive discounted contractor rates for their products and services after Labor Day and could call the store to start the process.
Crabtree got his start in the business working summers at his uncle’s store from an early age.
At one point, he had five stores across the Houston area but had sold them off to focus on his original Humble store. Crabtree, who is 59, said the hurricane had given him a new perspective.
The business was fortunate during the hurricane, but almost flooded as well. The church across from it on the north side of FM 1960 had high water but the floodwater did not reach his business, Crabtree said.
“I was thinking about trying to get out by 65—I have some son-in-laws I wanted to have start running the operation, more of the day-to-day,” he said.
The 9,000-square-foot showroom has a variety of vignettes of all types of flooring, including a full-sized shower and fireplace. Crabtree said it has a variety of products, such as carpet, tile, granite and quartz.
“I have the largest stocking inventory of carpet, luxury vinyl, tile and wood in basically anywhere north of I-10,” he said. “So when people want to put a floor in, they can pick it one day and install it the next.”