Lincke Floors Celebrating 75th Anniversary Tuesday, Then Closing Wednesday
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Gary and Gale Lincke, who own and operate Lincke Floors Inc. in La Grange, are shown here celebrating the family-owned business’s 70th anniversary in June 2021. This Tuesday the Linckes will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the business. The next day they are closing for good. Record file photo by Elaine Thomas -
The sign above the Lincke Floor Co. building on 146 N. Jefferson St. in La Grange says “Quality Work Since 1951.” Photo by Meadow Taylor-Marklin -
This Lincke Floor ad from The Record back in 1984 showcased their staff, left to right: Gale Lincke, Gary Lincke, Allyne Lincke, William Behrens, Delton Lincke and Nicholas Havelka. -
This ad in The Record back in 1951 announced the grand opening of Lincke Floor Covering Company.
Lincke Floors Inc. will be closing their doors for good on Wednesday, June 10, the day after the 75th anniversary of their opening in 1951. The company is owned and run by Gary and Gale Lincke. It’s located just off the bustling street of US 77 in the center of town.
Gary was born in 1952, so the business that his parents started has been part of his life ever since.
“This was my home away from home,” Gary said.
The Linckes plan to pop a bottle of champagne Tuesday to celebrate the anniversary. Following Wednesday, they will no longer take new business while still fulfilling their final orders.
Despite spending so much time within the walls of the family business, Gary is ready to close this large chapter of his life.
“Like anything in life, it had its ups and downs,” Gary said. “It was good times and bad times, and anyone that’s been doing it this long will sort of miss it, but not really. When you know it’s time to let go, it’s time to let go, and in my heart, I feel, prayerfully, that this is it.” Gary and Gale remarked on the changes in the industry over the years, noting the relational differences between themselves and large box stores, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot.
“We have never really worried about those box stores,” Gary said. “We have service and personal connections, whereas you see someone there in the box store, and you don’t know who the sales associate will be the next time you go back. You won’t know what kind of service you’ll get, because they hire contract people from all over. If my guys do work here and you need more done, you’ll see the same guys and create a rapport.”
Often overshadowed by big-named box stores, Lincke Floors is one of the few family- owned flooring businesses still around, albeit not for long.
“In the bigger cities, like Victoria and Austin, you’ll find flooring companies, but the little ones in small towns like La Grange, you just don’t see them anymore,” Gale said.
Despite being a part of a rural area, back in the day, La Grange used to be a hotspot for flooring stores.
“At one time, believe it or not, there were five flooring stores here,” Gary said. “One was right across the street in what is now Frogs and Flamingos. We’re the last ones standing.”
Because Gary has been a part of the flooring business for his entire life, he has connections in almost every part of La Grange.
“He’s been in so many homes, and he’s done so much work that he can tell new people who buy homes everything about their house, because he’s worked in it and done it,” Gale said. “He can tell them who the original owners were as well as stories about the owners. He’s put flooring in just about every house in La Grange, and every business, every church, schools, the old hospital, the new hospital. A little bit of everywhere.”
Not only is Lincke Floors a family business between Gary and Gale, but that extends to their employees as well.
“We have two expert installers: Carlos Frautos and Jose Chavez,” Gayle said. “Jose’s been working for us for almost 40 years and Carlos probably 26 or 27 years. We’ve always treated our employees like family. If there’s an illness or something within their family, we like to know and take care of them. We just treat them right, and they do very good work for us. That’s what a family business is all about, and this is very much a family business.”
In their newly allotted free time, the Linckes are planning on enjoying a slower pace and tending to their gardens.
“He has taken up gardening, and so he loves being out in his garden and picking his tomatoes and squash and whatever he happens to be growing, and I’m also a gardener,” Gale said. “My flower beds are in horrible shape, so maybe I’ll have some time to get on my knees and get out there and clean them and plant some new stuff.”
Gary and Gale will also be spending some time with family as well as continuing to be involved in the community that they have served for so many years.
“We’re involved with our church, and we’re both on some boards in the community, and we’ll continue doing those things, but we will not have to show up at work every day at 8 o’clock,” Gary said.