Family First - Fred Martin Floors

If Fred Martin Floors is not unique, it is very unusual. Not only do they sell floor coverings, they serve lunch. On Fourth Street near the corner of Vine in downtown Evansville stands one building housing two businesses. Fred Martin Floors and Bits and Bytes deli. Fred martin and four of his sisters operate the businesses, which compliment each other better than you might think. "Usually when people come in this showroom, theyre no sure what they want. They end up spending 2 to 3 hours. And then they start feeling a little hungry and you go, you really dont have to go anywhere to eat. You can just go right there. Oh, you can." Fred stays on the flooring side, but the girls go back and forth as needed. Today Mary Harl and Frances Remoli worked the deli. Vernonica Townsend helps with flooring. Nancy Williamson was out of town. Their father started the floor covering business in an old car dealership in 1972. They opened the Bits and Bytes deli in 1986. Whats it like for five sibling to work together for up to 60 hours a week? "Every once in a while, theres a little bit of tension, a little bit of screaming goes on sometimes." Fred says the key is for everyone to find a niche. Keeping duties separate can keep old sibling rivalries from flaring up. "You cooperate with each other and communicate, but you have to have your thing that youre good at that is your responsibility to take care of." Theyre not sure if the next generation will take over the business. But the current generation shows no signs of slowing down. "Unless Iwin the lottery, which my husband says I should win the lottery, I dont see any reason to stop working." Bits and bytes is a regular lunch stop for the Fox 7 gang. We highly recommended the signature sandwich, the Floppy Disc.