Choosing a floor can seem overwhelming when faced with all the materials and designs you must choose from. Luckily, Fante Flooring in Newtown Square has you covered. Not only do they have a wide selection of flooring you won’t find anywhere else, but owner Eric Fante and his team also take immense pride in seeing the finished products in their customers’ homes.
Eric opened Fante Flooring’s Newtown Square location in 2016, but the company’s roots started long before that in South Philadelphia. Eric’s great-grandfather, Thomas Fante, came to the United States from Italy in 1901, where he opened up and ran a successful furniture business. His son Dominic, Eric’s grandfather, worked alongside his father and was particularly interested and knowledgeable in the area of flooring. They opened Fante Flooring in 1946. The business grew, and by the 1970s, Dominic had turned the store into a beautiful showroom.
Eric grew up in South Philadelphia in the 1970s and spent much of his childhood helping his dad, Ron, and grandfather in the family business. Eric remembers being a young boy and learning the many aspects of running a flooring business from both his father and grandfather. “I started as a young kid putting tools away and sweeping the floors,” explained Eric. “Then, as a teenager and young adult, I took on more responsibilities
and learned how to take measurements and install floors. They showed me how important it is to be a helper.”
Eventually, Eric took over running the business, and since 2001 he has owned and operated Fante Flooring. His father passed away in 2011, but Eric said Ron’s legacy is in great hands. His family’s traditions and techniques are what helped him run the store successfully. “My dad taught me everything in both business and life,” said Eric. “From him, I learned the business from the ground up and how important it is to pay attention to all the little details. They are the most important aspects of being a business owner.”
Over the years, as the business grew, Eric was serving more customers outside of the city. Traveling frequently to the Philadelphia suburbs and the Mainline prompted Eric to move the location to Newtown Square in 2016. Located where Route 3 and 252 intersect, the 4,000-square-foot showroom
has a large selection of designer floors that aren’t always found in large retail stores.
From decorator fine hardwoods, the latest carpeting or tile and a vast array of modern engineered solutions, Fante Flooring offers a variety of flooring types that can turn houses into dream homes. Eric said he created the showroom so that customers can see the best and widest variety of flooring types all in one place.
Shortly after Eric moved his business to Newtown Square, he and his wife Vera decided to find their forever home here in Marple Newtown. They’d been living in Ridley Park for more than a decade but always admired the family friendly neighborhoods in our area. In 2018 they found the perfect home in Broomall on a street with more than 30 kids.
Vera is a fifth-grade teacher at St. Anastasia School, where two of their children attend school. Eric’s oldest son also went to St. Anastasia and is now a Sophomore at Marple Newtown High School. “It’s so great to be part of this community both in business and in life,” Eric said fondly. “I love to live and work here, and I am always happy to sponsor our school’s fundraising events like designer bag bingo and various social events.”
Eric spends his days in the showroom talking with his customers and walking them through the process of selecting, designing and installing high-quality beautiful floors. For customers who can’t come into the showroom, Fante offers a showroom on wheels. Eric can bring the floor samples directly to customers’ homes so they can look at flooring under their own lighting to decide what works.
What sets Fante Flooring apart from the big box stores is Eric’s approach and attention to detail, which he takes very seriously. “I sleep better knowing a job went smoothly,” said Eric. “Many customers become friends, so I’m elated to see them happy with the finished product.” Eric also employs sub-contractors that have worked for him for over 15 years. “I thank them every day because they help keep my business alive,” he
said proudly.
If you are ready to upgrade one or more rooms throughout your home, Fante Flooring has you covered. Visit their website at www.FanteFloors.com, call them at 610-232-7080 or visit the showroom at 39 South Newtown Street Road (PA Rt 252) in Newtown Square. The showroom is open Monday–Friday 9:30am–6:00pm and Saturday 10am– 4pm.