Minister Hails Tile City’s New 10,000-Square-Foot Showroom

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, has hailed Tile City & Home Centre on the opening of its new 10,000-square-foot showroom.

He attributed the expansion to growing business confidence and economic stability in Jamaica over the past decade.

“Tile City has invested this money because it sees a future in Jamaica. In the last 10 years, this country has changed in a [manner] that you could not imagine if you lived here before. We’ve taken down our debt [to GDP ratio] from over 147 per cent to 62 to 64 per cent, and we have built our net international reserves to a historic high of US$6.5 billion,” Senator Hill said.

He delivered the keynote address during Thursday’s (October 8) official opening of the Tile City & Home Centre Signature Showroom on Constant Spring Road in Kingston.

“Tile City and Home Centre has invested approximately $290 million in this outfit, including $40 million in a 240-kilowatt solar energy system. That is a major investment by any measure,” Senator Hill said.

He commended the company for the work it has done since entering the industry 27 years ago.

“Those years when it was challenging, those years when the currency was going up and down, those years when you couldn’t always get what you want to import, and those years when you didn’t have all the customers that could pay you immediately… thank God you stayed the course,” Minister Hill said.

In his remarks, Founding Director of Tile City & Home Centre, Jaleel Handal, reflected that when he and his wife, Guilda Handal, started the business, they had a vision, determination and little idea of how far their journey would take them.

He noted that, like every business, they had experienced moments of success, difficult challenges, change, and valuable lessons along the way, but through it all, they remained committed to moving forward.

“Now, 27 years later, standing in this beautiful new showroom, we can look back with gratitude and forward with excitement. So many people have been part of this journey. You have trusted us with your homes, businesses, projects, recommended us to others and continue to return. We never take that trust for granted. Without you, there would be no 27-year story to celebrate tonight,” Mr. Handal said.

He said the new showroom represents the next chapter of the company’s journey, a bold step forward and a promise to continue growing, innovating and serving Jamaica with even greater passion.

Mr. Handal added that the aim of the new showroom is to create more than just a space to display products.

“We want an experience… a space where people can be inspired, discover new ideas, see beautiful materials and beautiful settings, and imagine what is possible in their own space,” he shared.